Mikel Arteta makes bold comparison between Lionel Messi and a Premier League young

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are broadly considered two of the best gamers in soccer historical past. Their legendary careers have outlined a era, serving as the last word benchmark for rising expertise. In a placing evaluation, Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta prompt {that a} younger prodigy inside the Gunners’ ranks reminds him of what Messi was able to on the pitch throughout his youth.

Arsenal are getting ready to go to Leeds United on Saturday, January 31, for Matchday 24 of the Premier League, seeking to bounce again from a shocking 3-2 dwelling defeat in opposition to Manchester United.

Throughout his pre-match press convention, Arteta was requested about 16-year-old midfielder Max Dowman, and the Spaniard didn’t hesitate to attract parallels to the Argentine icon.

“Properly, definitely top-of-the-line,” Arteta mentioned when requested the place Dowman ranks among the many academy gamers he has seen rise by means of the ranks. “What he has performed with us—me personally—I haven’t seen earlier than. Solely with a man that used to play in Barcelona, however possibly not even that”. The Spaniard’s remarks served as a transparent refere

Dowman chasing a Premier League document

see additionally

Lionel Messi could have a stellar associate as Inter Miami verify a Designated Participant signing

When Max Dowman first took the pitch for the senior group on the Emirates Stadium in a 5-0 victory over Leeds United at 15 years and 235 days previous, the second went viral.

Nevertheless, Dowman surprisingly doesn’t maintain the document for the youngest debutant in Premier League historical past. That distinction stays with fellow Arsenal teammate Ethan Nwaneri, who debuted at simply 15 years and 181 days in opposition to Brentford in September 2022.

Now 16, Dowman has his sights set on one other historic milestone: changing into the youngest goalscorer in Premier League historical past. That document is at the moment held by James Vaughan, who scored for Everton at 16 years and 270 days in opposition to Crystal Palace in 2005. Given his present trajectory below Arteta, Dowman has a number of months to interrupt the 21-year-old document.

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist, fluent in English and Spanish, with a specialization in soccer, the NBA, and tennis. He started his skilled profession in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US, the place he first established himself as a author. All through his profession, Gianni has coated main sports activities occasions such because the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tournaments just like the French Open. His potential to report on real-time occasions and carry out properly below stress has made him a priceless member of a top-tier group of journalists. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, the place he now covers a variety of sports activities, together with European soccer, MLS, and the NBA.