Arsenal teenager Max Dowman became the Premier League’s youngest scorer at the weekend and his continued rise could have a knock-on effect for other players at the Emirates
Martin Odegaard has been warned that he could fall further down the Arsenal pecking order after Max Dowman announced himself, with Rio Ferdinand claiming the captain “might be gone”.
The Norwegian remains the club’s skipper and has previously been central to their attack. Up until recently he had commanded the No.10 role and was part of the Arsenal side that first began challenging for silverware and league titles.
Odegaard, signed from Real Madrid, has seen quality players arrive at the Emirates every year and is now facing a fight to hold onto his spot. Eberechi Eze was signed in the summer and has impressed in a central role, which gives Mikel Arteta options in that area.
Now Dowman, earmarked for some time as a generational talent, has broken the record as the youngest ever goalscorer in the Premier League. He’s set to get more and more opportunities with the ex-Manchester United star suggesting Odegaard could be the big loser.
Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: “You know Odegaard might not get a game now. Seriously, your captain might be gone. You’ve got Dowman who can play his position, Eze can play his position. [Bukayo] Saka can play his position and go in there and go central. It’s mad. Saka will have a bigger season next year than he does this year trust me, stats-wise and data-wise. This year he’s been down.”
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Odegaard was among those to hail Dowman, then 15, when he stood out in the club’s pre-season tour. The teenager had shone against AC Milan and Newcastle with the Norwegian hoping he didn’t face too much pressure during his rapid rise.
“He’s a top player, top talent, and I think everyone has seen it now in pre-season, what he’s done,” he told Men In Blazers. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on him and create too much of expectations around him, but we just need to give him time to be himself, to grow and learn. Everyone can see the quality. The key thing for us is to help him, support him and make sure he can take it in his own way and his own time. I’m sure he’s going to be a great player for us.”
Odegaard has been out injured since the 4-1 victory over Tottenham on February 22 due to a knee injury and is set to miss Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates. He’s in a race against time to be fit for the Carabao Cup final this weekend.
Dowman is the player in the headlines but Arteta himself is looking to keep a lid on the fanfare. He’s given no assurances that he will return in their European clash this week.
“Depending on the game and how he reacts,” he said. “I think his reaction has been really positive, and in relation to what we need in the game, there’s always a possibility (he will play).”
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