Breaks 21-year record 

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Arsenal teenager Max Dowman has become the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history after finding the net in their 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday. At the age of 16 years and 73 days, Dowman etched his name into the English football record books, becoming both the youngest goalscorer in the top flight and Arsenal’s history in the Premier League.

The Hale End graduate, born in Chelmsford, Essex, broke the record set by James Vaughan. Ironically, Vaughan scored for Everton at 16 years, 270 days old on April 10, 2005. Remarkably, Dowman wasn’t even born when it was set.

Before Vaughan, the likes of James Milner and Wayne Rooney had scored within two months of each other in 2002 as 16-year-olds. Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha is the only other player under the age of 17 to score in the Premier League, having bagged a last-minute winner against Newcastle back in August aged 16 years, 361 days. Cesc Fàbregas is sixth on the list, ahead of Michael Owen, Andy Turner and Michael Ball.

A magical cameo

With 75 minutes on the clock, the leaders were staring down the face of a disastrous draw against Everton. Then Dowman appeared on the sidelines, ready to come on, and the mood amongst the Emirates Stadium changed. Fans who were groaning at their players to shoot from 30 yards were suddenly eager with anticipation, getting amped up about the prospect of seeing their new ‘starboy’ as he prepared to make his entrance.

Replacing Martin Zubimendi, Dowman needed only minutes to carve out his first chance came, only for the teenager to blaze over the bar. But straight away, those watching the game could see his confidence on the ball, completely unafraid to take on the Everton opponents and create openings, and believed that a win was possible. In the 89th minute, that winning goal arrived.

It was Dowman’s dangerous, in-swinging cross that evaded Jordan Pickford at the far post and after a fortunate touch from Piero Hincapie, Viktor Gyökeres slotted into an empty net to secure a vital lead.

Not content with being Arsenal’s youngest appearance-maker at 15 years and 302 days, Dowman grabbed a goal for himself in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Of course, it must be mentioned that Pickford had gone up for the corner to try and grab a late equaliser. But picking up the ball deep into his own half, the teenager still had so much to do to find the back of the net.

His first touch was golden, knocking it past his opponent, and then he used Gabriel Martinelli as a decoy before nutmegging another Everton defender. At last, he was through and he began striding towards goal, taking it as close as possible before gently stroking it home. Dowman’s goal reflected the togetherness of the squad as all of his teammates raced towards the advertising hoardings to celebrate with him.

Arteta and Gyökeres laud special talent Dowman

Speaking after the game, Gyökeres told Sky Sports: “It’s incredible. You can see how he plays. He stays so calm and without fear every time he gets the ball. He takes the right decision most of the time as well and with the goal, he definitely took the right one. He’s an amazing player, it was a great goal for him and I’m so happy for him.”

His manager Mikel Arteta made the brave call to bring on Dowman and go for all three points. It was also the Spaniard who handed him his debut at the age of 15 some eight months ago. So it was only natural that Arteta was beaming with pride after witnessing the Arsenal academy product open his account for the club.

“Probably in my head I had a gut feeling. Yesterday he was training in the last few days and I had a gut feeling that it was a moment for him,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference. Probably because he doesn’t seem to be faced by the occasion or the moment or the context or the opponent. He just plays so naturally. He makes decisions to make things happen and what he delivered was incredible.”

Parallels with Rooney

His performance was crucial for Arsenal in going 10 points clear of Manchester City (with two games in hand) this title race, and if the Gunners clinch their first league title in 22 years, many will look back on this moment as the time Dowman truly announced himself on the stage.

Football fans above the age of 30 will recall watching the moment when a 16-year-old Rooney scored a beauty for Everton against Arsenal back in October 2002, and look how his career turned out. Now, Dowman has followed suit with his solo goal, returning the favour for Arsenal against Everton this time.

Rooney was embraced as a generational talent and there’s every indication so far that the young winger is on the exact same path. Dowman doesn’t turn 17 until New Year’s Eve (December 31), yet is already showing the ability and maturity of a player years beyond his youthful age. He has signed a pre-contract agreement for a professional deal at the Emirates and with a market value of €20 million, the sky is the limit for the wonderkid.