Mikel Merino has lauded the 'unbelievable talent' of 16-year-old Max Dowman after the Arsenal forward scored twice in the Carabao Cup. Dowman's brace helped secure a 4-2 third-round victory over Ipswich on Tuesday night, a result that extends the Gunners' winning run to five matches in all competitions.
Merino, who won the World Cup with Spain this summer, drew a comparison between Dowman and his international teammate Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona star, 19, broke into his club's first team at 16 and is now a Ballon d'Or contender. "Yeah, I would say there are some similarities for their character," Merino said. He stressed that Arsenal's senior players are focused on pushing the humble youngster to improve.
Merino described a player who thrives under pressure and makes a difference despite his age. "Honestly, he is an unbelievable talent," the midfielder stated. He noted that Dowman is not shy of challenges and is keen to learn from the veterans around him. The teenager opened the scoring after just seven minutes against Ipswich and added a second shortly after half-time, with assists from Eberechi Eze and Martín Zubimendi.
His goals contributed to a 4-2 win, with Merino himself netting Arsenal's fourth. The team currently sits first in the Premier League with a perfect record of four wins from four games. They have scored eight goals and conceded just one in the league this season. The victory over Ipswich followed a 2-0 league win at Sunderland and a 1-0 Champions League triumph at Napoli.
With Ben White and William Saliba currently sidelined, other young players like 17-year-old centre-back Marli Salmon also took their chance against Ipswich. The squad's depth will be tested again this weekend away at Brighton, who are fifth in the table. Check the upcoming fixtures for the full schedule. Merino's message is clear: the club's established stars are committed to guiding its latest prodigy.
More detail at Daily Mail Sport
