Arsenal hands 16-year-old Max Dowman a league cup start against Ipswich as Arteta rings the changes

Mikel Arteta is handing Max Dowman his first senior start for Arsenal in the EFL Cup third-round tie against Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Dowman is 16 years old, which is the kind of sentence that makes seasoned footballers quietly reassess their career timelines. The match, scheduled for September 15, 2026, at 8pm BST, comes just days after Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-0 in the Premier League. Arteta is using the cup fixture to rest his regulars, manage a packed schedule, and give younger players a stage that most teenagers only dream about. Who is Max Dowman and why does this matter Dowman became the youngest player to score a Premier League goal earlier this year, in March 2026, making him one of the most talked-about teenagers in English football before he had even completed his GCSEs. He also became the youngest member of a Premier League title-winning squad, adding a medal to a record that most professional players never achieve in a full career. Arteta has been careful not to overload him, repeatedly noting that Dowman must earn his minutes through consistent training performances rather than reputation alone. Dowman made his ascent through Arsenal’s academy system, having joi...