"What a moment": Man Utd legend makes Max Dowman claim after Arsenal win vs Everton
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has reacted to Max Dowman’s performance during Arsenal’s 2-0 Premier League win over Everton at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners picked up a fourth-straight league victory after a hard-fought win over the Toffees.
The Merseyside outfit were defensively resolute and looked on course for a stalemate until Dowman’s incredible cameo off the bench. He changed the game’s dynamic.
The youngster came on as a 74th-minute substitute for Martin Zubimendi and immediately got hold of possession and caught the eye with his directness and quick dribbling.
Dowman contributed to the Gunners’ last push for the winner. He delivered a peach of a cross for Piero Hincapie, who provided the assist for Viktor Gyokeres’ 89th-minute goal to break the deadlock.
The teenager should have scored from a fine Eberechi Eze pass prior to that, but he made amends in the final seconds, running the length of the pitch to bag the club’s second goal.
With goalkeeper Jordan Pickford up for the corner, Gyokeres made a vital headed clearance in the box. The subsequent ball fell to Gabriel Martinelli, who played through Dowman.
Dowman still had to beat two players, which he did in stellar fashion before scoring his maiden Gunners goal. He became the youngest in the Premier League to do so at 16 years and 73 days.
Shortly after the game, Ferdinand took to X to praise the Gunners graduate.
The former United centre-back described Dowman as a ‘crazy’ talent and said that it was a moment to savour for him, his family as well as the Gunners.
He wrote on X: “Max dowman….crazy talent. What a moment for him, his family and Arsenal FC.”
Dowman came on with the game hanging in the balance. He won an impressive four duels with four recoveries, and also completed a couple of dribbles.
He had one misplaced pass early on but was fluent thereafter. He completed 12 of his 13 passes and delivered the cross that led to Gyokeres’ actual winner.
Dowman has been highlighted as an immense talent at the club for the last 18 months, and he eventually got the platform to showcase his potential yesterday.
The teenager’s season was disrupted by an ankle injury in December. With his return, the Gunners will feel they have a new signing to get them over the line in the title race.
Arsenal moved nine points clear of Manchester City at the top of the league after the latter failed to beat West Ham United at the London Stadium last night.
The Cityzens have a game in hand against Crystal Palace, but Arsenal look in a good position with a big-margin lead and a superior goal difference too (+7).
The Gunners’ immediate focus will shift to the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Dowman seems unlikely to make the starting XI with the competition ahead of him, but he should get some minutes off the bench after his match-winning cameo.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com
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