Max Dowman: Arsenal's steps to protect winger

Max Dowman is old enough to play in the Premier League - but not to get changed with his team-mates.

The winger continued to show why he is one of the top-rated young players in the country when he made his Premier League debut at 15 years and 234 days on Saturday against Leeds United.

The appearance made him the second-youngest player to represent the club and the second-youngest to play in the Premier League - with team-mate Ethan Nwaneri holding both records.

His talent and his rise are no shock to anyone who has been around Arsenal for the past couple of years. He has been training with the first-team squad since he was 14.

Having a player with so much promise competing in senior football means Arsenal have put measures in place both for his career progression and his safeguarding.

These include where he gets changed, a strong focus on his education and also making sure that a boy in an adult team environment is well supported by his team-mates.

Manager Mikel Arteta and the club have been cautious about how they manage Dowman's progress.

Arteta said after his debut against Leeds that they have been gathering information about how he reacts to certain situations, whether that is being on the bench, training with the first team or not being named in the squad at all.

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