Max Dowman turned Arsenal's first pre-season game into a personal showcase in Catalonia. The 16-year-old scored once and set up another in the 4-1 win over Girona at Montilivi, and the best moments came when he was driving at defenders rather than playing safe.
Dowman leads the way
The opener summed it up neatly. Dowman spun away from Arnau Martínez and created the chance for Kai Havertz, then later drilled a finish into the bottom corner after Girona had trimmed the deficit.
That gave him two goal contributions in a game where he was the clearest attacking spark for Arsenal. At 16, he was also the youngest player on the pitch, and he played like it was his stage.
Other positive signs in Girona
There were other reasons for Arsenal to leave pleased. Christos Tzolis scored on debut with a deflected finish into the bottom corner, while Ben White made his first appearance since sustaining a knee injury against West Ham.
Gabriel Jesus was another notable name in the mix as Arsenal's first run-out of the summer gave Mikel Arteta a few useful signs. The scoreline was useful, but Dowman's performance was the part that stood out most. He looked decisive, direct and ready to keep forcing the issue when the season proper starts.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
