Arsenal's under-19 side secured a much-needed 4-2 win over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Youth League, but the match was historic for a different reason. Thirteen-year-old Luis Munoz came off the bench for the final four minutes, making him the youngest player ever to feature in the competition at 13 years, 11 months and 15 days old.
The victory was Arsenal's first points of the league phase after four successive defeats. Ceadach O'Neill and Kyran Thompson scored for the Gunners, while Max Dowman netted twice, the second a superb solo effort deep into stoppage time to seal the win.
With Arsenal's youth team unlikely to progress to the knockout stages, manager David Horseman handed opportunities to several younger academy stars. Munoz, who has not yet played for the under-18s, was joined by Emerson Nwaneri, another highly rated prospect from the under-16s.
Munoz's appearance breaks the previous record for youngest UEFA Youth League player, a testament to Arsenal's renowned youth development pathway. The club has seen academy graduates like Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Ethan Nwaneri rise to the first team in recent years.
Max Dowman, aged 15, has already made history for the senior side, becoming Arsenal's youngest ever Champions League player earlier this season and later their youngest starter in the Carabao Cup. Manager Mikel Arteta praised Dowman's courage and personality, saying 'you cannot teach that'.
