With Arsenal on the cusp of breaking a 22-year hoodoo, pipping Manchester City to the Premier League crown, a Manchester United legend has focused his attention on this summer’s World Cup.
In a season that has put Arsenal within 3 games of becoming domestic and European champions, it is easy to forget that perhaps the brightest light amidst it all has been the rise of Max Dowman.
The likes of Ian Wright have gone out on a limb saying: “As great as that Invincible team was and the individuals they had, this team will surpass them with what they’ve done because they will have done something that not even that great team did.”
Statements like that would have been difficult to imagine if a 16-year-old Hale End graduate at the time hadn’t dribbled through Everton’s midfield at pace with perfect control and slotted home in front of the Emirates faithful.
After Dowman had broken Wayne Rooney’s once-held record as the youngest-ever Premier League goal scorer, Paul Scholes believed Dowman should go one better and replace Theo Walcott as England’s youngest-ever World Cup inclusion.
Scholes drops Dowman verdict
When asked who he should replace, Paul Scholes insisted, “Anyone, I don’t care. I think he’s brilliant. Spain would do it, and Spain are successful.”
United media figureheads have rallied behind the idea of rolling the dice on Dowman, with Rio Ferdinand arguing: “He’s doing the same thing he did through every age group in the Premier League against grown men.”
But its actually Arsenal circles that have pushed back. While acknowledging a chasm in Premier League minutes between the two, Walcott cautioned against rushing Dowman into the spotlight:
“He needs to grow at his own pace, especially on the emotional side, because he’s a young adult.”
Read more: Eddie Howe hints at possible star exit amid Arsenal interest
Walcott is not alone in feeling England are enjoying a golden period that can cope without thrusting youngsters to the front of the queue, though the temptation to find space for the mercurial forward remains.
Domestic success to hurt international prospects?
But some quarters of the media have begun to discuss the practicalities of selection, with Arsenal’s Champions League campaign potentially pushing Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke’s arrival to England’s camp as far back as June 10th.
The week-long rest Arsenal players will be granted by Thomas Tuchel will hardly make up for the excess of games they’ve been forced to play.
Manchester City English internationals have racked up considerable minutes as they quietly vie for a domestic treble.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice only being rested against Nottingham Forest on the backdrop of 10 out of 12 international appearances since April sums up the load Arsenal’s men have had to absorb.
With physical demand a real concern, Downan’s inclusion, properly understood, is as much about maintaining freshness as it is a pure squad-building exercise.
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