Rio Ferdinand backs Arsenal star to have ‘proper breakout year’ and drools over Max Dowman

Rio Ferdinand is ‘begging’ Mikel Arteta to give Ethan Nwaneri a greater role next season and believes it could be a ‘proper breakout year’ for the midfielder if he is handed more opportunities.

Nwaneri announced himself as one of English football’s most exciting talents last term, rising from Arsenal’s academy ranks to establish himself as a genuine first-team option for Arteta, along with fellow Hale End product Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The 18-year-old made a total of 37 appearances across the campaign, while chipping in with nine goals in all competitions – numbers he will no doubt be looking to improve on going forward.

However, as Arsenal approached the business end of the season in both the Premier League and Champions League, Arteta tended to lean on his more experienced players, with the teenager starting just one of the Gunners’ final nine matches.

Competition for places in Arsenal’s attacking areas means Nwaneri may have to be patient for a regular starting berth. He will, though, be encouraged to have been given the nod for the side’s pre-season clash with AC Milan on Wednesday.

But while Nwaneri shone in Singapore before coming off for Martin Odegaard, it was another wonderkid, Max Dowman, 15, who stole the show with a sublime cameo performance in the second half.

After watching Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Milan, Ferdinand drooled over the club’s wealth of young talent, with Dowman just the latest prospect to make his mark in the first-team.

‘Everyone who watched the podcast knows that there’s a different energy about me when I’m talking about young players,’ the legendary ex-Manchester United and England defender said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel.

‘I was the same with Kobbie Mainoo in the Euros, Phil Foden when he first burst onto the scene, Cole Palmer, Lamine Yamal, obviously, Desire Doue, great young players who just get you off your seat. You watch them and go, “Oh, yeah! Give me some more of that!”

‘This player played one pre-season game. I spoke about him in November and I’ve probably spoken about him a bit before that as well because I’ve seen him before as a young kid. Max Dowman, don’t forget that name. Arsenal have produced another young gem.’

Ferdinand added: ‘They’ve got Nwaneri coming through, too, and I think this season could be his proper breakout year. I hope it will be.

‘They’ve already had [Bukayo] Saka for a few years now who seems like an elder statesman in this changing room and there are 15-year-olds knocking about like Max Dowman.

‘He’s become one of the youngest Arsenal players to play at the club in a pre-season friendly in Singapore, against AC Milan by the way. Not minnows… AC Milan.

‘It’s early days but it looks like Declan Rice has taken him under his wing, he posted a picture of him on the coach travelling about.’

Having kept tabs on Dowman’s progress with interest, Ferdinand believes Arsenal may well have the finest 15-year-old talent in world football on their hands.

‘He’s definitely the best 15-year-old in the country, probably in Europe right now, maybe the world,’ he continued.

‘I keep seeing people say, “Don’t hype him!”… what are we in football for? What are we here for? We’re here to be entertained, to get excited about young talent. We’re here to talk about it, love it, appreciate it.

‘We’re not putting expectations on his name or saying he’s got to play ten games or he’s got to score five, ten goals. I’m just saying I love him!

‘I want to see this, I want to see these young players coming out. He is a joke.’

After Arsenal’s defeat of Milan, Mikel Arteta admitted Dowman would have to raise his ‘physical levels’ if he is to become a first-team regular down the line.

But according to Ferdinand, coaches and team-mates at Arsenal have been stunned by what the teen has been producing on a daily basis at the training ground.

‘What I’m hearing from some of the people I know in the Arsenal camp is that he is transferring his 15-year-old ability that he showed with the Under-18s with Arsenal, with England,’ he explained.

‘He’s playing years up, with the Under-21s, and shifting that into the first-team when he’s training with them.

‘The players and the coaching staff are going, “We ain’t really seen this”, and transferring that into the first-team is ridiculous so long may this continue and I hope we’re talking more and more about Max Dowman as the season goes on.

‘Special shoutout to Ethan Nwaneri as well. I want to see him getting more game-time. Please, Mikel Arteta, play these kids because I think they’re good enough.

‘He’s going to know them because he sees them more than me, but I’m just begging that he can give these kids more game-time while trying to win the Premier League which I know is difficult.

‘But when there’s talent, it’s undeniable sometimes and I think these two boys are undeniable talents.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.