It’s rare that a 15-year-old strolls around each corner of Emirates Stadium, applauding fans who have come to watch him play football.
But this wasn’t just any old Saturday in north London. This was the end of a remarkable day that included the introduction of Hale End’s latest jewel, Max Dowman, and the homecoming of one that almost got away, Eberechi Eze, as Arsenal thrashed Leeds United 5-0.
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Dowman’s lap of appreciation after the full-time whistle was not without merit. He had just become the second youngest player to represent Arsenal in a competitive match, after Ethan Nwaneri who was 53 days younger when he made his debut in September 2022. And Dowman didn’t just play; he made an impact in the game.
It is astonishing to say, but a feature of Arsenal’s pre-season has involved this boy coming off the bench and winning penalties. The first came after outrunning Newcastle United’s physical powerhouse, Joelinton, showing not just Dowman’s talent but his athleticism. Against Villarreal, it was his quick feet that won the spot kick. In front of 60,000 spectators on Saturday, in a televised match against Premier League opposition, it was a sharp stop-and-start dribble that earned Arsenal the chance to score another goal to close out the victory.
Between the penalty being awarded and Viktor Gyokeres converting it, for his second goal of the day, chants of ‘Super, super Max Dowman’ rung around the stadium. It wasn’t the first time that evening, either.
Brought on with half an hour to play, Leeds United’s players were keen to give Dowman an intense welcome to the Premier League, marking him tightly on his first few touches, but soon that didn’t matter. The first time he received the ball in a vaguely dangerous area, the North Bank was urging him to shoot, and he did. Soon after, he toyed with 26-year-old Gabriel Gudmundsson on the right wing before getting the left-back booked as he tried to scamper past him.
(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The collective willingness for Dowman to leave his mark on the game was no clearer than when Declan Rice broke forward late on. The midfielder carried the ball up to the edge of the penalty area but forced a pass that wasn’t really on to Dowman when, in truth, he should have taken it on himself.
But that didn’t stop Dowman from making an impression. Jurrien Timber, who also scored twice, told Sky Sports: “Playing today against grown men, he is a joy to watch, for the crowd too. Hopefully, he will have many amazing years here.”
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While a child helped to provide a perfect end to proceedings, it was Eze’s inner child that started it all.
Fourteen years after being released by Arsenal as a teenager, he was back, and this was his day.
On Wednesday night after The Athletic revealed Arsenal had made their move for the midfielder, street artist Northbanksy painted a mural with the tag ‘All roads lead home’. It was vandalised the night before Arsenal faced Leeds United but vendors near the Emirates had already printed Eze scarves for supporters to buy as they arrived at the ground.
(Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty Images)
Arsenal announced the signing just half an hour before kick-off, but the Emirates was full and ready to welcome home their new No 10. As the 27-year-old walked out of the tunnel, it seemed as though he didn’t know where to look. Fans are now able to hang over the sides, which added to his entrance, but all it took was one look back for a sense of joyful disbelief to take over Eze’s face.
All he could do was smile and shake his head as he walked to the centre circle, taking in 60,000 people all applauding him. By the time the words ‘Let it all work out’ blasted through the stadium speakers Eze, one of many black British Christians in the Premier League, had to point to the sky. If only he could tell his 13-year-old self what was to come.
(David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
But that’s the thing. Nobody knows what is around the corner. At the start of the week, Arsenal were toiling with an ugly win at Old Trafford to start the season and then the impact of another injury to Kai Havertz. By the end of it, the Emirates seemed to be gearing up for Monday and Tuesday’s Notting Hill Carnival with the atmosphere that was created by Eze’s arrival, Dowman’s debut and Gyokeres’ goals — even if there were more injuries, to Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
For all the thought that goes behind the intricacies of what happens on a football pitch, that energy can be just as, if not more, important.
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There is no getting away from the fact that last season was draining. From the red cards that started coming in August, to the injuries that littered the entire campaign, Arsenal couldn’t seem to catch a break. That feeling could not be allowed to fester going into this season if Arsenal want to take that final step to become champions.
Taken back by the energy inside the Emirates, Arteta said: “That’s what we need to go to a new level. Challenging again for the prizes that we want is going to require something else. And today I saw something else in the stadium. It was another enthusiasm, positivity, the way they lived the game. I loved it, and hopefully, we give them a lot of reasons to continue like that.”
(Top photo: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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