Gabriel Jesus makes ‘crazy’ Max Dowman claim and names Arsenal’s next wonderkid hope

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Gabriel Jesus makes 'crazy' Max Dowman claim and names Arsenal's next wonderkid hope

Max Dowman has been a breakout star for Arsenal this season after becoming the youngest player in history to score in a Premier League fixture

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Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has called Max Dowman's rise "crazy" amid the teenager's impressive start to life in the Gunners' first team. The 16-year-old became the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer after netting in March's 2-0 win over Everton.

The winger made his top-flight debut on August 23, coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute of Arsenal's 5-0 win over Leeds United. Dowman has gone on to make seven appearances for Mikel Arteta's side – scoring and assisting once.

And Jesus has lauded Dowman's impact in an interview with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. The Brazilian has explained to the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast how Arsenal's young star left him shocked as he still attends school despite his newfound fame.

He said: "Max is still 16. He started with us 15. I told you before. When I was 15, I was playing in the streets. I didn't make it yet. It's crazy.

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"So at 15, you are playing Champions League, Premier League, it's crazy. And I ask him after the game, he scored, I say, 'how was school today?' Because it was Sunday, and then Monday I say, 'how was school today?'

"And he was like, 'no, I'm going later.' I say, 'oh, okay. '

"Because in Brazil, if this happens, it's impossible to go to school. It's impossible.

"The people, the fans, yeah. It's impossible. So he's very good, Max, very good. And he's there. He's there, definitely. He's there."

Dowman was called up to the England Under-19 squad during the international break. And the teenager scored a brilliant goal against Portugal in a UEFA European Championship qualification tie.

Dowman's next chance to impress could come in the FA Cup quarter-finals away at Southampton on Saturday (8pm BST).

The young star has made one start in the FA Cup so far for Arsenal this season, where he played 77 minutes in the 2-1 win over Mansfield Town in the fifth-round tie earlier this month.

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