Sky Sports presenter David Jones pulled up Jamie Redknapp after the Liverpool icon purred over the prospects of Arsenal teenager Max Dowman. The 15-year-old midfielder was handed his Gunners first-team debut against Leeds at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening as Arsenal thrashed the visitors 5-0.
Arsenal were in scintillating form in north London as they welcomed their home fans to a Premier League game for the first time this season following their 1-0 victory at Manchester United last Sunday. The hosts dominated from start to finish, with Jurrien Timber heading in his team’s first goal from a corner with 11 minutes of the first half remaining. Bukayo Saka, who was forced off with an injury in the second period, added a second goal just before the break, with Viktor Gyokeres firing in his first Gunners goal in the early stages of the second period. Timber poked home his second from another corner, with Gyokeres rounding off the scoring from the penalty spot in stoppage time at the end of the match.
Dowman, who won’t turn 16 until December 31, was a shock inclusion in the matchday squad. And he was introduced to the action with 26 minutes remaining as he replaced summer signing Noni Madueke.
The teenager sparkled on the ball as he broke into the Leeds penalty area at one stage. And he looked to get involved in the action at every opportunity.
He later fired a shot at goal before winning the Arsenal penalty after being tripped in the box.
Redknapp and former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott were full of praise for Dowman after the match.
And at one stage, Jones was forced to step in while Redknapp was praising the teenage star as the Sky Sports presenter exclaimed: “Should we really be saying that?”
Jones was attempting to tone down the excitement around Dowman, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explaining to Match of the Day that the club have a responsibility to “look after him” and “protect him”.
“We’re going to see a lot of that face in the future. He’s a wonderful footballer,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.
And the former midfielder went on to say: “Defenders are going to have a nightmare trying to deal with him. But this is exciting, I think we should embrace it, I don’t think we should hide from it.
“This is a unique young player who is going to have a brilliant career. And he’s at the right club. If you’re right now that young man I would be watching what Bukayo Saka does every day in training. He’s the perfect role model for him.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk