Mikel Arteta lauds Max Dowman after teenager makes UEFA Champions League history in Arsenal win over Slavia Prague - 'It doesn't get any harder'

React to this story

Another win and another clean sheet saw Arsenal continue their perfect start to the UEFA Champions League league phase. Much of the attention was on 15-year-old Max Dowman, who became the youngest-ever player in the competition following his second-half introduction and earned high praise from manager Mikel Arteta. The Gunners are also now just one clean sheet away from setting a new club record.

'We have a massive player there' - Arteta impressed by history-making Dowman

Video credit: TNT Sports

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal have a "massive player" in Max Dowman, after the 15-year-old became the youngest ever to feature in the UEFA Champions League.

Midfielder Dowman was introduced as a 72nd-minute substitute in The Gunners' 3-0 win over Slavia Prague.

And Arteta, who also handed 17-year-old Andre Harriman-Annous his first appearance in the competition, praised the club's precocious youngsters.

Transfers

Arsenal push to secure Guimaraes and Vinicius deals - Paper Round

2 hours ago

"It doesn't get any harder than this competition," he told TNT Sports. "Max at 15 takes the ball and straight away starts to take people on and win free-kicks. That shows the personality that these kids have.

"Really happy to see them with us in this journey, and hopefully they will continue to improve.

"The way he plays, he attracts a lot of contact. He's so good at timing the right moment to move the ball when the opponent makes the next step.

"We have a massive player there."

Highlights: Merino double secures victory for Gunners

Video credit: TNT Sports

Arteta also made clear his delight at Arsenal's display as a whole. The Gunners recorded a 10th successive win in all competitions and moved top of the Champions League league phase table after their win.

"Very happy - a really tough place to come," he said. "They haven't lost here all season and we knew it was going to get really physical and very intense.

"They are very direct, but emotionally, we handled it really well. We were very efficient when we had to be."

On Arsenal keeping an eighth clean sheet in a row and matching a club record, Arteta added: "Very pleased. The penalty could have been at the end, but it was the right decision [to overturn].

"It shows the consistency, the way we have dominated the defensive part of the game. Overall, a really good performance again."

Hargreaves: Arsenal have 'force field' around their goal

TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves reflected on Arsenal's imperious defensive record after another convincing win.

"This run continues," said the former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder.

"One shot at target right at the end. We're literally on shot watch. There's like a force field around Arsenal's goal.

"It's quite remarkable, it just shows you what confidence does. They've got a great group, Mikel's done a fantastic job, recruitment's been amazing.

"Now they're on this run, top of the Champions League table, top of the Premier League table, and it doesn't look like stopping at any point."

The moment Arsenal's Dowman, 15, made UCL history

Video credit: TNT Sports

Meanwhile, TNT Sports' Joe Cole joined in the praise of Dowman, whose rise to prominence has been one of the stories of the season so far for Arsenal.

Speaking on TNT Sports' UEFA Champions League Goals Show Xtra, he said: "I don't know what's going on, what we're feeding these wonderkids around the world.

"He's a wonderful player, I must say, you hear of things in football, his family have their heads screwed on. You cannot see this kid not getting to the top, in terms of where he can go."

Arsenal are next in action against Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday, before a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur after the upcoming international break.

Arteta's side return to Champions League action at home to Bayern Munich on November 26.

Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

Transfers