Mikel Arteta Messi Comparison Praises Dowman

Teenage star Max Dowman has vowed his future to Arsenal and Mikel Arteta has drawn a serious comparison between the player and Lionel Messi. The manager of the Arsenal club praised the 16 year old after the club affirmed a professional contract.

When Dowman is 17 on December 31 the deal will be officially active. It contracts one of the most promising young English football talents in the long run. The move is considered to be a significant move in the youth development policy of Arsenal.

Dowman has already written club history. He first featured in the 5-0 victory of Arsenal over Leeds in August when he was only 15 and 234 days old. He would later on be the youngest in the history of Arsenal football club to start against Brighton in a Carabao Cup victory at the Emirates stadium.

The Mikel Arteta Messi analogy came when the manager was questioned to list the Dowman among the top academy players he had to deal with. The answer of Arteta was definite and certain. He claimed Dowman is as good as he has ever seen him at his age.

Arteta made use of the experience he had had in Barcelona. He happened to be in the club when Lionel Messi was young. He said that he had not witnessed these traits before, maybe only a Barcelona player. Even at the time he even gave a clue that Dowman is different.

Arteta glorified the composure of Dowman. He put emphasis on the personality and confidence of the teenager. He claimed that the young midfielder is not stressed in case of large crowds or strong opponents. He thinks such an attitude is uncommon.