Max Dowman caught the eye once again as Arsenal came out 3-2 winners in their friendly match against Newcastle United on Sunday.
Following a behind-closed-doors win over Watford last weekend and a 1-0 victory over AC Milan on Wednesday, Arsenal took on their first Premier League opponents of pre-season in Newcastle United on Sunday.
The Gunners didn’t have the best record against Newcastle in 2024/25, so they may have felt they were in for another tough afternoon when Anthony Elanga gave his side the lead with a scuffed early finish.
But Arsenal drew level with a confident finish by Mikel Merino, set up by a clever backheel by Kai Havertz. Within minutes it was 2-1, with Alex Murphy accidentally converting another Havertz assist for an own goal.
Arsenal only made one half-time change, though Riccardo Calafiori was quickly withdrawn with an apparent injury. Jacob Murphy then brought Newcastle level again with a shot from distance.
The Gunners made a few more changes around the hour mark, including bringing on 15-year-old Max Dowman. That might have seemed like an indication that the game would be winding down, but Dowman made sure Arsenal eventually found a winning goal.
The teenager was immediately involved in a confrontation with Joelinton, winning a free-kick as the midfielder caught him in the face with a stray hand.
Dowman then had a couple of other opportunities in the following minutes, beating players with a couple of driving runs and forcing saves out of the Newcastle goalkeeper.
Another strong run ultimately led to a penalty, as Dowman beat his man out wide before being brought down by Joelinton (again) for a penalty. Martin Odegaard was on hand to convert.
It was an impressive display from the youngster, and one that will surely ensure he continues to get chances as we head into the second half of Arsenal’s pre-season schedule.
Arsenal pre-season schedule
- Saturday, July 19th – Arsenal 2-0 Watford
- Wednesday, July 23rd – Arsenal 1-0 AC Milan
- Sunday, July 27th – Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle United
- Thursday, July 31st, 12:30 – Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Wednesday, August 6th, 18:00 – Arsenal vs Villarreal CF
- Saturday, August 9th, 17:00 – Arsenal vs Athletic Club
Times in BST