Mikel Arteta has praised teenage sensation Max Dowman following his historic goal during Arsenal 2–0 victory over Everton on March 14, 2026, a result that pushed the Gunners 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Speaking to the interviewer after the match as posted by sportlivy via their youtube channel, Arteta described the moment Dowman scored as “magical.” The 16-year-old became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history (16 years, 73 days) when he calmly finished into an empty net deep into stoppage time.
Sportlivy reported;
Interviewer:
Mikel, I said to Viktor Gyökeres on the pitch a match with many, many moments, but one moment is going to write all the headlines tomorrow. Young Max Dowman, 16 years and 73 days, now the youngest-ever scorer in the Premier League. Just sum up, not just as a manager and a former player yourself, but also as a father how special is that moment for a youngster at that tender age?
Mikel Arteta:
It was a great moment, especially the way the goal build up. We had 10–15 seconds to really enjoy actually what was about to happen. It was magical all the bench and all the players together, jumping, and the crowd as well. It was a beautiful day.
Interviewer:
Can you remember being that age and what it takes to reach the level that he’s at? Obviously it’s not only the goal I think he changed the game. Every time he got the ball, the speed of the game increased, he made things happen, and it looked like we were more of a threat.
watch interview below;
Arteta revealed that the entire bench and crowd realized what was about to happen as Dowman sprinted forward on the counterattack. According to the Arsenal manager, everyone had roughly 15 seconds to understand the significance of the moment before the teenager completed the historic finish.
Beyond the record-breaking goal, Arteta emphasized that Dowman’s impact as a substitute changed the rhythm of the game. The youngster brought fresh energy and intensity, making Arsenal dangerous every time he received the ball during the closing minutes.
Softfootball The Arsenal boss also highlighted the emotional celebration that followed the goal, describing the moment when players and staff jumped together on the touchline as “a beautiful day” for the club’s academy system. Arteta noted that moments like this demonstrate the strength of Arsenal’s youth development.
The victory over Everton continues a strong run of form for Arsenal in March. Earlier in the month, the Gunners secured a 1–0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion, maintaining their advantage in the title race.
Arsenal have also enjoyed significant success against Chelsea this season, completing a hat-trick of victories over their London rivals, a run that has boosted confidence within the squad during the final stretch of the campaign.
With the Everton win, Arsenal now lead the Premier League by 10 points, although Manchester City still have games in hand. Nevertheless, momentum is firmly with Arteta’s side as they head into the final seven matches of the season, chasing what would be their first league title in 22 years.
