Home / Football / Premier League News Max Dowman may not play much of a role in Arsenals run-in, says another teenage sensation Written by Jon Fisher Last Update: March 16, 2026 10:22:07 am GMT 4 min read Wayne Rooney is not expecting Max Dowman to make much of a contribution to Arsenals bid to land the quadruple. Dowman made a match-changing impact after coming off the bench in Saturdays 2-0 win over Everton, supplying the cross from which Viktor Gyokeres opened the scoring in the 90th minute before netting himself deep into injury-time to become the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League.The win, coupled with Manchester Citys 1-1 draw at West Ham, saw the Gunners extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points, although they have played a game more.Arsenal take on Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 clash tomorrow night with the tie delicately poised at 1-1 following last weeks game in Germany. They face City in the EFL Cup final on Sunday and Southampton in the last eight of the FA Cup.It promises to be a thrilling end to the season for the North London club but Rooney is not sure how much of a role Dowman will play due to his academic commitments.The 16-year-old is still at school and scheduled to take his GCSEs in June and the former England forward says they may take priority.He has got his GCSEs, and his education and Im sure for him and his family that is important as well, Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.What an opportunity for him to be around the squad. He could be a Premier League winner when hes still finishing school off.Hes got an aura and a belief about him and it was the same against Everton. If its education first, I dont think well see much of him over the next few weeks.Table of Contents1 Dowman will have more to cope with than I did Rooney2 You have to enjoy the success Rooney3 Dowman tops list of youngest goalscorers in Premier League historyDowman will have more to cope with than I did Rooney Rooney is in a good position to evaluate Dowman having also burst on to the scene as a 16-year-old, scoring a brilliant winner for Everton against Arsenal in 2002.I was back out playing with my mates on the streets after the game, he said.Now were in [the] social media [age]. People will be messaging, Instagram or Twitter, whatever hes got. And youll be seeing it everywhere.So I dont think he will have slept many hours [on Saturday night] because Im sure he will have been up watching it.Its different now, a different age when I was coming through. There was no social media at that time.So it was all about the newspapers and whether you liked it or not front page and back page. I think the scrutinys not on you as much maybe these days.You have to enjoy the success RooneyDowmans fearlessness on the ball is reminiscent of a young Rooney and the 40-year-old is a big fan of the teenagers approach.He seems, from the games Ive watched, to not let that pressure affect him because he gets the ball, he holds on to it, he commits defenders, he goes to take them on, and so he definitely looks like hes got a confidence about him, Rooney said.Mikel Arteta, some of the senior players in the Arsenal squad, will not let him get ahead of himself. But I think you have to enjoy it as well.Sometimes people think that enjoying success is arrogant and I just think they do it in the [USA]. They enjoy it and they celebrate it.So when weve got a young lad like that coming through as a 16-year-old, hes clearly got a lot of ability and you just hope he can go and fulfil that potential.Let him enjoy it and go and express himself.Dowman tops list of youngest goalscorers in Premier League historyNameGameAge1. Max DowmanARSENAL v Everton16 years and 73 days2. James VaughanEVERTON v Crystal Palace16 years and 270 days3. James MilnerSunderland v LEEDS16 years and 356 days4. Wayne RooneyEVERTON v Arsenal16 years and 360 days5. Rio NgumohaNewcastle v LIVERPOOL16 years and 361 days Topics: Arsenal F.C. Max Dowman Follow us: Jon Fisher Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events. Read more from Jon Fisher
