Mikel Arteta makes Lionel Messi comparison as Max Dowman commits to Arsenal
By Philip Duncan, Press Association
Mikel Arteta has compared Max Dowman to Lionel Messi after it was announced the 16-year-old English sensation will sign a professional contract with Arsenal.
Dowman, who made his debut in Arsenal’s 5-0 win against Leeds in August aged 15 years and 234 days, has reached a pre-agreement at the north London club which will tick over into a pro deal when he turns 17 on December 31st.
Dowman became Arsenal’s youngest ever starter when he impressed in a Carabao Cup win against Brighton at the Emirates in October.
A month later, he became the Champions League’s first 15-year-old following an appearance off the bench in Arsenal’s win at Slavia Prague.
In all, Dowman has played five times this season, but he has been sidelined for nearly two months with an ankle injury.
When asked where Dowman sat among academy players he had seen come through the ranks, Arteta, who was on Barcelona’s books at the same time as Messi, said: “Well, certainly one of the best.
“What he has done with us, me personally, I haven’t seen before. Only with a guy that used to play in Barcelona – but maybe not even that.
“He has a certain charisma as well and personality. He doesn’t get overwhelmed, whether it’s by the situation or the stadium or the opposition and that’s a huge quality to have.
“The communication between us has been very, very productive over the years. It’s now down to him and us to build an amazing career.”
Dowman aside, Arteta will have a full squad to select from for his side’s pivotal Premier League trip to Leeds on Saturday and the Spaniard revealed he believes matchday squads need to be bolstered.
He said: “At the moment there are two or three players that I have to leave out. These are the rules of the Premier League.
“I beg them, like it is in the Champions League, (to change it), because it’s much better to manage the squad, to maintain the value of the players and to maintain the mental health of the players.
ð¬ "We have an amazing talent that, day-by-day, I think we need to shape because there’s so much there."
Mikel praises Max for his incredible progress so far ð— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 30, 2026
“We have a really unique job, which is the ability to transform somebody’s life, career. But every week we have to tell somebody, ‘Tomorrow you don’t do your job and you’re not even allowed to travel with the team’.
“Tell me a job that you have do that? I don’t go to the kitchen and say to two of the chefs, ‘Today you don’t cook, just go home’. The demands on games are bigger so we need bigger squads and it doesn’t make a lot of sense to restrict that.”
Arsenal are four points clear of Manchester City and Arteta insists he can maintain his strong relationship with Pep Guardiola as the two clubs battle for the title.
Arteta, who was Guardiola’s assistant at City for three years, said: “I don’t talk (with him) like my wife, but we talk.
“For me, the surprising thing would be to not (maintain that relationship). And it would set a really bad example for sport.
“The biggest lesson sport has given us was the relationship that Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer had. We are not at that level. But they were two of the best in history, even though they had to play in finals.
“So how the hell am I not going to have a great relationship with someone that I admire? But when it goes to the court, or to the pitch, that’s for the winner.”
