Nwaneri and Dowman: The PL's youngest-ever players

Our 5-0 success against Leeds United will live long in the memory for many reasons, but it’ll never be forgotten by Max Dowman who made his Gunners debut in the second half.

Aged just 15 years and 235 days, Max made his professional debut in the 64th minute when he replaced Noni Madueke, and became the second-youngest player in Premier League history.

And in a nice piece of symmetry, he shared the field with the current record holder - Ethan Nwaneri who was 54 days younger than Max when he made his Gunners bow against Brentford back in September 2022.

Three years ago, Ethan became the first 15-year-old to play in the Premier League, and also became the youngest player ever to appear in a top-flight match in English football, beating the previous record held by Sunderland’s Derek Foster in August 1964. Foster was just three days older at 15 and 184 days.

Youngest player to play in the PL Date of debut Player Club Opponent Age Sep 2022 Ethan Nwaneri Arsenal Brentford 15y 181d Aug 2025 Max Dowman Arsenal Leeds 15y 235d Apr 2025 Jeremy Monga Leicester Newcastle 15y 271d May 2019 Harvey Elliott Fulham Wolves 16y 030d May 2007 Matthew Briggs Fulham Middlesbrough 16y 068d May 2013 Isaiah Brown West Brom Wigan 16y 117d Aug 2003 Aaron Lennon Leeds Tottenham 16y 129d Aug 2008 Jose Baxter Everton Blackburn 16y 191d Feb 1999 Gary McSheffrey Coventry Aston Villa 16y 198d Mar 2015 Rushian Hepburn-Murphy Aston Villa Sunderland 16y 198d

The pair are also the two youngest players in Arsenal history, and indeed the only players to feature for us before their 16th birthday.

However, another current Gunners holds the record for being our youngest ever starter. Jack Porter’s appearance against Bolton Wanderers last season - a night that saw Ethan score his first goals for the club - came when he was 16 years and 72 days.

That means that Max, who won’t turn 16 until New Year’s Eve, has until mid-March to take that record from our academy custodian.

Arsenal's youngest ever players Date of debut Player Age Sep 2022 Ethan Nwaneri 15y 181d Aug 2025 Max Dowman 15y 235d Sep 2024 Jack Porter 16y 72d Oct 2003 Cesc Fàbregas 16y 177d Sep 2008 Jack Wilshere 16y 256d Nov 1999 Jermaine Pennant 16y 319d Aug 1953 Gerry Ward 16y 321d Sep 1978 Paul Vaessen 16y 346d Oct 2003 Ryan Smith 16y 352d Jan 2014 Gedion Zelalem 16y 363d

Given his impressive cameo off the bench against Leeds, Max has shown he has an eye for goal, and another long-standing club could be his if he continues to receive first-team opportunities in 2025/26.

Back in December 2003 - six years before Max was born - a fresh-faced Cesc Fabregas made a name for himself when he netted in a League Cup tie against Wolves, becoming our youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 212 days.

With that in mind, should Max score his first Gunners goal at any point this season, then he would leapfrog the Spaniard in the rankings and potentially take that particular slice of club history, unless another academy product gets there first!

Arsenal's youngest ever scorers Date Player Opponent Competition Age Dec 2003 Cesc Fabregas Wolves League Cup 16y 212d Sep 2008 Jack Wilshere Sheff Utd League Cup 16y 266d Mar 1982 Stewart Robson Ipswich First Division 17y 127d Nov 2004 Arturo Lupoli Everton League Cup 17y 138d Sep 2024 Ethan Nwaneri Bolton League Cup 17y 188d Jan 1895 Thomas Meade Newcastle Second Division 17y 243d May 1962 George Armstrong Everton First Division 17y 265d Apr 1963 Jon Sammels Blackpool First Division 17y 278d Jan 1930 Cliff Bastin Sheff Wed First Division 17y 296d Oct 2008 Aaron Ramsey Fenerbahce Champions League 17y 300d Jan 1938 Reg Lewis Everton First Division 17y 300d

And while we may have the youngest Premier League player in history in Ethan, should Max score in the top-flight before September 27, 2026, then we could also have the competition’s youngest scorer.

That record has been held for 20 years by James Vaughan, who scored for Everton against Crystal Palace aged 16 years and 270 days in April 2005. Playing, and indeed scoring, for the Toffees that day was a certain Mikel Arteta, who could be instrumental yet again in helping a young prospect set a new Premier League benchmark.

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