Wayne Rooney is just not anticipating Max Dowman to make a lot of a contribution to Arsenal’s bid to land the quadruple.
Dowman made a match-changing affect after coming off the bench in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton, supplying the cross from which Viktor Gyokeres opened the scoring within the ninetieth minute earlier than netting himself deep into injury-time to develop into the youngest goalscorer within the historical past of the Premier League.
The win, coupled with Manchester Metropolis’s 1-1 draw at West Ham, saw the Gunners extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points, though they’ve performed a recreation extra.
Arsenal tackle Bayer Leverkusen within the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 conflict tomorrow evening with the tie delicately poised at 1-1 following final week’s recreation in Germany. They face Metropolis within the EFL Cup remaining on Sunday and Southampton within the final eight of the FA Cup.
It guarantees to be an exciting finish to the season for the North London membership however Rooney is just not certain how a lot of a job Dowman will play on account of his educational commitments.
The 16-year-old continues to be at college and scheduled to take his GCSEs in June and the previous England ahead says they could take precedence.
“He has acquired his GCSEs, and his training and I’m certain for him and his household that’s vital as properly,” Rooney mentioned on The Wayne Rooney Show.
“What a possibility for him to be across the squad. He could possibly be a Premier League winner when he’s nonetheless ending college off.
“He’s acquired an aura and a perception about him and it was the identical towards Everton. If it’s training first, I don’t suppose we’ll see a lot of him over the following few weeks.”
Dowman may have extra to deal with than I did – Rooney
Rooney is in a great place to guage Dowman having additionally burst on to the scene as a 16-year-old, scoring an excellent winner for Everton towards Arsenal in 2002.
“I used to be again out taking part in with my mates on the streets after the sport,” he mentioned.
“Now we’re in [the] social media [age]. Folks might be messaging, Instagram or Twitter, no matter he’s acquired. And also you’ll be seeing it all over the place.
“So I don’t suppose he may have slept many hours [on Saturday night] as a result of I’m certain he may have been up watching it.
“It’s completely different now, a unique age once I was coming by way of. There was no social media at the moment.
“So it was all concerning the newspapers and whether or not you preferred it or not – entrance web page and again web page. I feel the scrutiny’s not on you as a lot possibly today.”
You must benefit from the success – Rooney
Dowman’s fearlessness on the ball is harking back to a younger Rooney and the 40-year-old is a giant fan of {the teenager}’s strategy.
“He appears, from the video games I’ve watched, to not let that strain have an effect on him as a result of he will get the ball, he holds on to it, he commits defenders, he goes to take them on, and so he undoubtedly appears like he’s acquired a confidence about him,” Rooney mentioned.
“Mikel Arteta, a few of the senior gamers within the Arsenal squad, is not going to let him get forward of himself. However I feel you need to get pleasure from it as properly.
“Typically individuals suppose that having fun with success is conceited and I simply suppose they do it within the [USA]. They get pleasure from it and so they have a good time it.
“So once we’ve acquired a younger lad like that coming by way of as a 16-year-old, he’s clearly acquired lots of means and also you simply hope he can go and fulfil that potential.
“Let him get pleasure from it and go and specific himself.”
Dowman tops checklist of youngest goalscorers in Premier League historical past
| Title | Sport | Age |
| 1. Max Dowman | ARSENAL v Everton | 16 years and 73 days |
| 2. James Vaughan | EVERTON v Crystal Palace | 16 years and 270 days |
| 3. James Milner | Sunderland v LEEDS | 16 years and 356 days |
| 4. Wayne Rooney | EVERTON v Arsenal | 16 years and 360 days |
| 5. Rio Ngumoha | Newcastle v LIVERPOOL | 16 years and 361 days |
