Max Dowman is quickly becoming someone who we no longer need to protect.
If you are old enough, you are good enough, and the 16-year-old is beginning to look like a player Mikel Arteta may soon have to find a regular place for.
Dowman’s latest statement came at Portman Road – scoring twice and playing his part in all four of Arsenal’s goals during a 4-2 Carabao Cup victory over Ipswich Town. It was the sort of performance that makes it increasingly difficult to describe him solely as a player for the future.
And, eventually, that could have consequences for Noni Madueke.
To be clear, this is not a suggestion that Madueke has suddenly become surplus to requirements. The England international scored Arsenal’s second goal against Ipswich and remains an important attacking option.
But football evolves quickly. If Dowman continues to develop at his current rate, there is a strong argument that he could eventually become the player Arsenal turn to in the role Madueke currently occupies.
Madueke’s strengths are obvious. He is quick, direct and willing to take on defenders. His ability to carry the ball at speed gives Arsenal a different threat in wide areas. However he also has glaring weaknesses – inconsistent delivery and too often runs down dark alleys.
Dowman offers something different. And in his cameo’s so far has shown much better decision making.
Rather than relying primarily on pace and power, the teenager looks comfortable receiving the ball between the lines, manipulating defenders and combining with teammates. His close control allows him to operate in tight spaces, while his willingness to drift inside gives Arsenal another creative presence around the penalty area.
That versatility could be particularly valuable for Arteta.
Dowman is not simply a winger who stays on the touchline. He can move into central areas, link play and create overloads. Those qualities fit naturally into an Arsenal side built around movement and positional rotations.
Of course, it would be premature to draw sweeping conclusions from one Carabao Cup performance. However, Dowman is quickly building on what he produced last season.
Still only 16-years-old, we will need to manage his development carefully. The physical and tactical demands of regular Premier League football are significant, particularly for a player so young. But if he is ready, he is ready. And as we have seen with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, a ready 17 year old can be a better option than an estabalished 24-year-old.
What made Dowman’s latest performance so impressive was how composed he looked.
His first goal showed excellent composure in front of goal. His second demonstrated his ability to find space and finish decisively. Most importantly, he looked comfortable playing 90 minutes of senior football.
There has already been considerable excitement around Dowman, with his performances in youth football and pre-season suggesting that he has the technical ability to make the step up. The challenge now is turning flashes of brilliance into consistency.
Interestingly, Madueke’s presence does not necessarily have to prevent Dowman from breaking through. It could actually help him.
Arteta will have the luxury of continuing to introduce Dowman gradually rather than throwing him into every Premier League match. That means Dowman can continue to learn, adapt to the demands of first-team football and take advantage of favourable situations without carrying the entire responsibility of Arsenal’s attack.
The pecking order will still be Bukayo Saka, Madueke and then Dowman. But as Dowman continues to develop, produces decisive moments and proves that he can handle the physical and tactical demands of senior football, Arteta could eventually face a very appealing selection dilemma.
And the most realistic scenario will be Madueke leaving at the end of the season.
Dowman is 16. His development will not be completely linear, and Arsenal will need to protect him from the enormous expectations that already surround his name. But his trajectory is difficult to ignore.
After his performance against Ipswich, Dowman has given Arteta another reason to consider him.
For now, Madueke remains the established first-team player with the responsibility of delivering.
But we have seen this story before with Bukayo Saka – who had Arsenal record signing Nicholas Pepe ahead of him.
If Max Dowman keeps performing like this, Arteta will make the same decision as he did previously.
And there is a part two to this story. Come 2027/28, Dowman should be hot on the heels of Saka. Bukayo will be coming up to his 27th birthday, Dowman still just 18. Will we see a changing of the guard in 2028?
Joe O’Cearuill is a name that no Arsenal fan would likely have remembered.
Released by Leyton Orient in 2005, and by Watford in 2006, O’Cearuill somehow found his way onto Arsenal’s books, signing professional terms with the club in July 2006.
Part of the squad for Dennis Bergkamp’s testimonial, which opened the Emirates Stadium O’Cearuill’s was an unused substitute for the Arsenal first team for a was an unused substitute for the Arsenal first team for a League Cup third round match against West Bromwich Albion in October 2006. That would be the closest he ever got to the Arsenal first team.
A loan spell at Brighton followed, and in 2007 he joined Barnet. A move to Ireland followed a year later, before he did the rounds of non-league clubs in and around London. Starting at Orient at 17, O’Cearuill would move 17 times throughout his career, never really settling at a single club. He did manage to make 2 appearances for Republic of Ireland.
O’Cearuill’s career is stereotypical of many a player. Talented enough to get into an academy, but fails to make it and ends up bouncing around non-league as a frustrated footballer who tells people he “could have made it”. Whether it is lack of talent, work ethic or a poor mentality, there is always a reason why many academy prospects end up with the careers they do. I imagine his story will come out in the next few weeks.
Whilst you might not have known the name O’Cearuill, you would probably have heard about his son – JJ Gabriel. And this is where the story really begins.
JJ Gabriel is not actually the name of the 15-year-old Manchester United “wonderkid” nicknamed “Kid Messi. His full name is Joseph Junior Andreou O’Cearuill – born to a Cypriot mum, and English dad with Irish and Trinidadian grandparents. So where did the name Gabriel come from?
Reports are that JJ Gabriel’s dad changed his sons name to “make his son more marketable”. Imagine disregarding your families heritage, that of your grandparents, your wife, just because you want to make your teenage son sound Brazilian so that he can be more marketable. All a little odd.
Yesterday, it was reported that the youngster was on the brink of leaving Manchester United. His grievance apparently that fellow youth products Shea Lacey and Harry Amass got game time in the Champions League and he did not. When I say “his grievance”, it is likely not his but his father’s.
Whilst 19-year-old’s Lacey and Amass made their Champions League debuts against Sabah, Gabriel was scoring a hattrick in the youth version of the competition against the same opponents. The UEFA Youth League is for under 19s, so a 15-year-old playing up 4 age groups should be seen as an incredible achievement. But not to the O’Cearuill’s.
JJ Gabriel was slated to make his Manchester United debut tonight against Brighton in the League Cup. He would have become Manchester United’s youngest ever senior player. Instead, less than 48 hours before the game, the news leaked that Gabriel had sent formal notice to Manchester United that he wanted to cancel his registration with immediate effect. Following the news, social media was flooded with stories about the family.
The stories from those who have previously been involved in the young mans career continued…
And the digger fans dug, the more was found out about his dad.
Reported “burner accounts” on X were found, which are apparently Joe O’Cearuill questioning the age of JJ Gabriel’s Manchester United academy teammates. A clear attempt to put down a pair of teammates, get them out of the picture at Manchester United, and create an easier pathway for his son.
And it was not just one alleged burner account…
All this paints a picture of a father who see’s his son as his cash cow, and is attempted to live through his talented son – a common trait in many failed footballers whose kids show a bit of talent.
Instead of letting their children flourish at their own pace, father’s pace the touchline of youth pitches up and down the country, barking orders and making demands. All because they failed as footballers and think, just because they were once in an academy, they know best.
Whilst JJ Gabriel has ruined his chance of becoming Manchester United’s youngest player tonight (or more his dad has ruined the chance), Arsenal’s youngest ever player grabbed himself a brace last night against Ipswich.
If everything coming out of Manchester about O’Cearuill is bad, everything that comes out of Brentwood about Max Dowman’s family is good. Supportive parents who keep their sons feet on the ground, ensured he did his GCSE’s, and trust the club will make the best decisions for the club. You only ever hear from Dowman’s dad, Rob, when he is shooting down rumours about his son on social media.
Last night, Arsenal finished the game with 5 teenagers on the pitch:
Myles Lewis-Skelly (19) – At Arsenal since 8 years old Max Dowman (16) – Since 8 years old Marli Salmon (17) – 10 years old Theo Julienne (18) – 13 years old Ife Ibrahim (18) – 7 years old
This summer, there have been a lot of academy movements between clubs. It is interesting that many of those players to have moved had not been with their club since pre-teen. Most had been signed between 13 and 16 from another clubs academy. And then at 16 or 17 they were being moved again by their “handlers”.
Arsenal signed a then 15-year-old Kyran Thompson in 2024 from West Ham. This summer he opted not to sign a professional deal and join Newcastle.
Mishel Nduka joined Arsenal from Charlton as a 15-year-old. Like Thompson, he stayed for 2-years, saw out his academy deal, refused to sign a professional deal and left. He is on the way Manchester City.
Someone has to do research about young player loyalty, and if players are more loyal if they start with a club at a younger age, and are not poached in their teams from elsewhere. By poaching, are we “creating the monster” and making it clear that being disloyal is OK?
It is so hard to progress from talented academy product to senior professional.
Of players who come through English Category 1 academies, roughly 30% eventually receive a professional contract somewhere in the Premier League or EFL, but only about 10% establish anything resembling a sustained professional career in the top four divisions. Only about 3% ever play in the Premier League.
To make it, you need the natural talent. You also need the work ethic, mentality and supportive parents. Many of those that fall by the wayside do so not due to their talent, but due to their own work ethic or mentality, or parents / representatives moving them from club to club and creating problems for them.
You often here “pathway” when a kid moves from one academy to the next. This is just a meaningless word.
Chido Obi-Martin went from Arsenal to Manchester United because they sold him a pathway to the first team. He has yet to really progress beyond the level he was playing at in 2023 for Arsenal and has since been given a chance to prove himself in Holland for Willem II.
When JJ Gabriel does move, it will be because of the “pathway”. But he will move to someone like Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester City. These are clubs with better players than Manchester United. And better young players. It will actually be harder for him to get the game time he (or his dad) thinks he should get.
Ultimately, JJ Gabriel’s dad thinks his son is better off out of Manchester United. All he really cares about is his sons profile, not his career. He wants the Nike deal, to see his kid in the shirt of Barcelona. He does not care if it affects the long term progression of his boy.
Ultimately, if you are good enough, and work hard enough, you will get the playing time, the acolades and the money.
Bukayo Saka had a £73m Nicholas Pepe ahead of him. He forced his way into the first team ahead of Arsenal’s record signing. Phil Foden broke through at Manchester City despite having some of the best attacking talent in the world ahead of him. Marcus Rashford got his chance at Manchester United at 18 based on his talent, attitude and work rate.
If the likes of JJ Gabriel and Chido Obi Martin deserved their chance, they will get it. Top clubs do not just give game time to youngsters to keep parents, or fans, happy.
I always chuckle when I see fans say “X player deserve a chance to show he is good enough”. No, they do not. They need to prove they are good enough on the training ground when training with the first team. That will show to the manager and coaches whether they are ready for first team football – not just chucking them into a run of Premier League games.
JJ Gabriel is still a child. He still has the body of a child. He is not a Wayne Rooney who had hair on his chest and was balding at 15. Manchester United are correct in taking his development slowly. And if his father thinks he knows best, then that is the reason we should stay clear.
A toxic dad overly involved in his sons career will only spell disaster further down the line.
My final thought is JJ Gabriel will sign a 2-year-deal with Barcelona. He will see very little game time. In 2-years he will be on the move again in the quest for first team football. A new 5-year deal, maybe to a French or German team, but not one of the big ones. After 1 good season, his dad will be pushing to move him to Chelsea or Manchester City. We have all seen this story before.
In the battle of two number twos, I expect Kepa to remain as out League Cup keeper.
The recruitment of Illan Meslier opened the door for an Arsenal keeper to leave – had an offer came in for Kepa, Meslier would have been 2nd choice. Instead, Kepa stayed, Tommy Setford went out on loan and Meslier is 3rd choice.
After getting through 45 minutes on Saturday, I would expect Jurrien Timber to get an hour tonight. A mixture being Ben White hobbling off (again) and Timber rebuilding himself will see the Dutchman start.
Inside Timber will be Ezri Konsa. With William Saliba out, Konsa will likely see a huge world load on the first half of the season. I would not be surprised to see Konsa move to right back after the hour mark to replace Timber, with Marli Salmon getting the last half hour.
Partnering Konsa will be Christian Mosquera.
Mosquera has come in for some criticism since that Champions League final. I think it has been unfair criticism. Part of the issue is that both Gabriel and Mosquera like to be the aggressor, whilst Saliba and Konsa prefer to sit back. That will make Mosquera as Gabriel’s understudy this summer whilst Konsa covers Saliba.
At left back Arteta will continue to rotate throughout the season. Piero Hincapie will come in for Ricardo Calafiori.
In midfield, I expect Martin Zubimendi to start. The Spaniard is a class player and simply ran out of steam last season. A run out against Ipswich will be good for him.
Declan Rice will get a mid week rest, with either Myles Lewis Skelly or Bruno Guimaraes coming in for it. I expect it to be the Brazilian who, like Timber, will get an hour under his belt following 45 minutes at the weekend.
Noni Madueke will get a start on the right, with Eberechi Eze on the left. Through the middle will be Mikel Merino just behind Viktor Gyokeres. Expect us to get the ball wide and get some balls onto the box.
It is perhaps a sign of our strength that, Bruno aside, it will be our entire 2nd string. And that team has two World Cup winners!
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 