'Unbelievable' Max Dowman compared to Barcelona star Lamine Yamal as Arsenal team-mate reveals message first-team players have sent to 16-year-old wonderkid

Mikel Merino has compared 'unbelievable talent' Max Dowman to Lamine Yamal and claimed his Arsenal team-mates have challenged the youngster to get even better.

Yamal, who is in the running for the Ballon d'Or, has taken the football world by storm ever since breaking into Barcelona's first team as a regular aged just 16 - the same age as Dowman.

Merino won the World Cup with Spain this summer, with Yamal, now 19, a key part of the team. Yet, Merino views Dowman, who struck an impressive brace against Ipswich on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup third round, in a similar light to his international team-mate.

'Yeah, I would say there are some similarities in terms of their character,' he said. 

'They don't care about the spotlight. They thrive when pressure is at the highest. They are always up for the challenge and they are not shy at all - even facing the biggest names in the game. So, they are very similar.

'Honestly, he (Dowman) is an unbelievable talent.