Max Dowman asked Jack Wilshere for advice after his recent appearance for Arsenal against Mansfield Town, according to the former Gunner himself.
Arsenal teenager Max Dowman burst onto the scene with a Premier League goal against Everton earlier this month, and former Gunner Jack Wilshere may have had a small hand in preparing the player for that moment.
Seven days earlier, Dowman had been named in the starting lineup for Arsenal for an FA Cup game against lower-league Mansfield Town.
Though the 16-year-old seemed to have a pretty good game overall, Wilshere has since revealed that Dowman wasn’t satisfied with his performance, and he wanted some advice following that match.
“We speak, me and Max,” Wilshere confirmed (via The S*n). “The last time I spoke to him was after the Mansfield game and he wasn’t happy with his performance. Which I knew he wouldn’t be, because that’s just how he is.
“There is a lot of care for the players now. But Max wants to be challenged all the time. That is really refreshing. He didn’t want to hear what he was good at, he knew that. He wanted to know how he could improve.
“I try to help him with my experience of coming through and playing at a young age.
“Also, trying to help him with what Mikel Arteta wants, giving him a little bit of an advantage. He still needs to keep his head down and work hard. There is room for improvement and Max will be the first to admit that.”
Whatever Wilshere said must have had the desired effect, as Dowman was making headlines across the world by the next weekend.
That’s largely testament to the ability and hard work the youngster has been putting in for years now, but it doesn’t hurt to have another former Arsenal academy graduate as a mentor to keep you on the right path.
Wilshere spent time coaching Dowman earlier in his managerial career, but he’s currently the first-team manager of Luton Town.
Luton are battling to reach the promotion play-off places, and they also have a trip to Wembley coming up next month for the EFL Trophy final against Stockport County.