Arteta’s 16-year-old star shines as nine-change Arsenal cruise past Ipswich
Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the season as Max Dowman produced a stunning performance in a 4-2 EFL Cup third-round victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
The 16-year-old scored twice on his first senior appearance of the campaign, while Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino also found the net for the Premier League champions.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made nine changes following Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sunderland, handing opportunities to several players who have spent much of the opening weeks outside his preferred XI.
Dowman was the outstanding performer and needed only seven minutes to justify his inclusion.
The Hale End graduate won possession before combining with Eberechi Eze and driving towards the Ipswich defence.
Dowman then skipped around Cedric Kipre and confidently found the bottom corner to give Arsenal an early advantage.
It was another reminder of the extraordinary talent that made him the Premier League’s youngest-ever goalscorer during last season’s title-winning campaign.
Arsenal doubled their advantage nine minutes later after their pressure forced another Ipswich mistake.
Bruno Guimaraes helped regain possession before Merino released Madueke, who drilled his finish beyond Christian Walton.
Ipswich responded and forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into action, but Arsenal remained largely comfortable and carried their two-goal advantage into half-time.
Dowman required only 98 seconds after the restart to strike again.
The teenager controlled a deflected Martin Zubimendi pass before calmly opening his body and guiding a left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
His brace made him only the second 16-year-old to score twice in a match for a Premier League club after Wayne Rooney achieved the feat for Everton against Wrexham in 2002.
Dowman continued influencing proceedings without the ball and soon won possession again inside the Ipswich half.
Arsenal’s fourth arrived in the 58th minute when Dowman intelligently allowed Guimaraes’ pass to run through for Merino, who fired in off the post.
Ipswich prevented the scoreline from becoming emphatic when substitute Jack Clarke created a goal for Anis Mehmeti, before former Arsenal academy forward Chuba Akpom added another late consolation.
Neither goal seriously threatened Arsenal’s progression after the damage inflicted during a dominant opening hour.
The Gunners have now won all seven competitive matches this season, while Arteta’s heavily rotated selection demonstrated the depth available to him across four competitions.
For Dowman, however, the evening represented something more significant.
After waiting patiently for his first senior opportunity of the campaign, the 16-year-old delivered another compelling reminder that he is ready to play a meaningful role in Arsenal’s season.
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