Declan Rice says Arsenal are “blessed” to have teenage sensation Max Dowman in their ranks, alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, and has revealed he is mentoring the trio.
All three are highly rated products of Arsenal’s youth academy, but it is Dowman—just 15 years old—who is attracting particular attention. Despite his age, he has already been integrated into first-team training and was part of the squad’s warm-weather camp in Dubai last month, a sign of how highly Arsenal regard his potential.
While Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, both 18, have broken into Arsenal’s senior squad this season—Lewis-Skelly even marking his England debut with a goal—Dowman’s rapid rise has left even senior figures at the club in awe. Rice, who has taken on a mentorship role, is among those most excited by the young midfielder’s ability and mentality.
“It is unbelievable times,” Rice told the BBC. “I can’t talk highly enough of Ethan as well. Just wait until he hopefully gets into the team, the lads get to see him, because he is a special talent.
“But Max is the best 15-year-old in the country. I have had so many texts about Max recently where people have watched him and said: ‘Wow, what a talent.’ So he is one to watch out for.”
Despite the hype, Rice was keen to stress the challenges that lie ahead for the teenager. “At 15, there is still such a long way to go. You can be the best in the country at 15, but it doesn’t necessarily mean at 18 you are going to be.
“So you need to be hungry, keep working, keep pushing. I speak with Max a lot and he knows that. And he has got such a good family around him. He is unreal.”
Rice also praised Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, but reiterated how fortunate Arsenal are to have a player like Dowman coming through. “Luckily enough, I have a really good relationship with all three of them because Max gets to train with us quite a lot.
“Those three I have kind of taken under my wing a little bit because I have been in that position before and I had older players help me out.
“I get on really well with all of them and they are all really, really comfortable around me, which is all part of having a good relationship.”
With Rice’s guidance and Arsenal’s faith in him, Dowman’s future looks incredibly bright. At just 15, he is already training alongside Premier League stars, and if his development continues at this rate, he could soon be the next breakout talent at the Emirates.
