Arsenal: The Max Dowman World Cup hype is dangerous – Here is why Thomas Tuchel must say no
Arsenal starlet Max Dowman has emerged as a surprise contender in the eyes of many to be named as part of England’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.
Supporters across the country have been crying out for the 16-year-old to be named as part of Thomas Tuchel’s final squad for this summer’s tournament, but he has not been named in the squad for the upcoming warm-up games.
The midfielder recently became the Premier League’s youngest ever goalscorer when he raced clear to find the net in the Gunners’ win over Everton in their last league game, and his stock is continuing to rise with every passing match at the moment.
Tuchel will be well aware of the youngster’s remarkable progress, and he is already a firm part of the national team setup at U19 level.
Dowman is likely to be involved again when Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, but it is clear that the announcement of the England squad has come too soon for him this time around.
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VISIT THE ARSENAL MATCH HUBKey stat shows that Max Dowman is too inexperienced for World Cup berth
Dowman has already established himself as one of the country’s brightest young prospects, and it is almost inevitable that he will one day become a crucial part of the England team.
However, that moment should not come this summer, despite how tempting it must be for Tuchel to throw him in at the deep end as part of his final group for the World Cup.
| Player | Age | Debut | |
| 1 | Theo Walcott | 17 yrs 2 months and 14 days | 30 May 2006 (vs Hungary) |
| 2 | Wayne Rooney | 17 yrs 3 months and 19 days | 12 February 2003 (vs Australia) |
| 3 | Jude Bellingham | 17 yrs 4 months and 14 days | 12 November 2020 (vs Ireland) |
| 4 | James Prinsep | 17 yrs 8 months and 9 days | 5 April 1879 (vs Scotland) |
| 5 | Tot Rostron | 17 yrs 10 months and 5 days | 26 February 1881 (vs Wales) |
International managers are constantly looking for wildcard selections when it comes to major tournaments, as they try to find options that other teams won’t be expecting them to take.
Picking Dowman as part of his 26-man group would certainly fit that bill, but it is simply not the right moment for him at this stage of his career.
Amid all the fanfare surrounding the starlet’s development at the Emirates Stadium, it is easy to forget that he has still played just 43 minutes of Premier League football.
No player of such inexperience should be included as part of a squad that is aiming to win an international tournament, regardless of how big a future they have ahead of them.
Dowman still needs to be nurtured despite his prestigious talent, and throwing him into one of the most high-pressure situations in football is not the way to do it.
Dowman to make Arsenal open to Martin Odegaard sale
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider earlier this week that Dowman’s emergence may make Arsenal open to selling Martin Odegaard in the next few windows.
The Norwegian has been linked with a move to Barcelona at the moment, and while the North London outfit will not want to lose their club captain ahead of next season, Brown thinks it’s something that they should consider, to ensure they don’t stunt Dowman’s development.
The former recruitment chief indicated that senior players will already be feeling the pressure amid the starlet’s emergence, as they will know that it is a matter of time before he becomes a regular in the starting XI.
It has already become clear that Dowman’s ceiling within the game is simply sky-high, and it is now up to Arsenal as to exactly how they choose to manage his development.
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