Arsenal's teenage sensation Max Dowman has been presented with three Guinness World Record certificates for his achievements with the Gunners. Still just 16 years old, Dowman has impressed when given the chance to shine in Arsenal's first team.
He has already turned out in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, and sparkled in a Carabao Cup win over Ipswich this season, scoring twice. In just 15 Arsenal appearances so far, the attacking midfielder has set three world records for what he has done at schoolboy age.
Three world records for the teenager
Dowman has received his Guinness World Record certificates recognising him as the youngest player to score a goal in the Premier League, to win the Premier League, and to appear in the Champions League.
The record-breaking Premier League goal came against Everton in March this year, beating former Toffees striker James Vaughan's record which had stood since 2005.
Tom Beckerlegge, Senior Editor of Guinness World Records Football Edition 2027, said of Dowman: 'To have already achieved three Guinness World Records titles before turning 17 is extraordinary, and his story captures exactly why this generation of players is so exciting.'
Arteta's cautious approach
The expectations on Dowman are huge, but Gunners boss Mikel Arteta continues to steadily introduce him to senior football, given his age. Dowman has played just twice so far this season, but will likely be thrown in more and more, especially as injuries hit the Arsenal squad over the campaign.
After his two goals in the 4-2 win over Ipswich last month, Arteta said of Dowman: 'He was unbelievable again; some of the actions and connections that he can give us on the pitch are just a joy to watch. He was really efficient; he's getting more and more active in action; he can sustain for longer periods, and we know the talent that we have.'
Managing the physical demands
Arteta has urged caution on whether Dowman is ready to play regularly in the physically demanding Premier League, but has not ruled it out. 'Everything is possible,' said the Arsenal boss. 'The probability probably is extremely low, because you don't see the players with the capacity to handle just the physicality of the game.
'Not only that, but the demands that you have to put your bodies through in the week to be able to be in a good condition to compete, the amount of information, the challenges that you have to face. But he's doing it, and he's doing it really well every time he's got a chance.'
The Premier League-winning boss added: 'What we have to do is look after him — he's 16-years-old, you don't see that in this league. In other leagues in Europe, that's a totally different context. But in this league, with the demands that the league, the players and everything puts on you, we really need to make sure every time we throw him in, he's in the right context with the right preparation, and that's what we are trying to do.
'We're going to make sure that when we just throw him there, he's ready to handle that at every level, and it's not just that he can run past somebody. There's a lot more things that we need to look after him…the only thing that we have to manage is that he needs to constantly be aware that he needs to be prepared for what he needs to do.'
