Max Dowman is now officially the youngest ever player to feature for the England U21s
He is now the youngest…
- Champions League player
- Premier League goal scorer
- Premier League starter
- Premier League winner
- Arsenal scorer
- Arsenal starter
- Arsenal u18 player
- Arsenal u21 player
- Arsenal u21 scorer
- Premier League 2 player
- UEFA Youth League scorer
- England u17 player
- England u17 scorer
- England u19 player
- England u19 scorer
- England u21 player
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| Myles Lewis-Skelly could be recalled to the Arsenal starting line-up (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images) |
Arsenal have won both of the Champions League games they have played this season but on Wednesday face one of the tournament favourites in Bayern Munich.
An away win at Napoli was followed by a 3-0 victory over Lille at Emirates Stadium last week but Mikel Arteta now must try and navigate past the German giants at the Allianz Arena. Speaking after Sunday's 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, Arteta called on his team to be ready.
"I think it depends on the game and the way the opposition wants to play," the Gunners boss said on grinding out results. "Today was a different one to Lille, and will be extremely different to three days’ time against Bayern Munich, which will be 96 minutes man-to-man, and let’s go. But we adapt, learn, and try to make the margins bigger."
Vincent Kompany will want a response from his team after they could only draw to Viking FK last week. The Bundesliga side did smash five goals past Bodo/Glimt on the opening matchday, though, but will be without Michael Olise against Arsenal after he was sent off against Viking.
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| Noni Madueke fired Arsenal to glory against Nottingham Forest |
Bayern have had one extra day of rest as they played on Saturday, with Luis Diaz netting a hat-trick in a 6-1 rout of RB Leipzig. Arteta may want to freshen things up then and that could start at right-back. Ben White started Sunday's vital win at the City Ground but could take his place on the bench if Jurrien Timber is fancied from the start.
It will be interesting to see if Riccardo Calafiori is also given a rest. The Italian played the whole 90 minutes in Nottingham but Myles Lewis-Skelly could come in at left-back. The Hale Ender impressed against Lille and would offer fresh legs given he did not come off the bench at the weekend.
In midfield, it was Bruno Guimaraes, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard from the off in Nottingham. You would think Martin Zubimendi starts, possibly for Guimaraes, as Arteta may want to keep Rice and Odegaard in the team given their experience and quality.
Moving to the front three, Bukayo Saka will most definitely start and Noni Madueke has probably done enough to start on the left given his heroics against Forest. It's a toss up between Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz for the striker role and the Swede may just edge it given he has started the two previous Champions League matches.
Possible Arsenal team to face Bayern Munich (changes from Nottingham Forest in bold): Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Madueke.
- Sam Truelove
Max Dowman's three Guinness World Records are the result of a remarkable breakthrough season with Arsenal during the 2025/26 campaign, where he shattered longstanding milestones in both domestic and European football.
🏆 Youngest UEFA Champions League Player
Age: 15 years, 308 days
Dowman set this record on 4 November 2025, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute in Arsenal's 3–0 away win against Slavia Prague . This broke the previous record held by Youssoufa Moukoko by 75 days . He remains the only 15-year-old to have ever played in Europe's premier club competition .
⚽ Youngest Premier League Goalscorer
Age: 16 years, 73 days
On 14 March 2026, Dowman scored a stunning solo goal in Arsenal's 2–0 win over Everton . After coming on in the 74th minute, he picked up the ball inside his own half in stoppage time, ran 60 metres, dribbled past two defenders, and rolled the ball into an empty net . This smashed a record that had stood for two decades, previously held by James Vaughan, by 197 days .
🥇 Youngest Premier League Winner
Age: 16 years, 144 days
When Arsenal clinched the 2025/26 title—their first in 22 years—on 19 May 2026, Dowman became the youngest player ever to win the Premier League . He qualified for a winner's medal having made six league appearances, comfortably exceeding the minimum requirement of five . He dethroned Phil Foden, the previous record-holder, by more than a year .
💡 A Record-Breaking Campaign
Beyond these three GWR titles, Dowman also became the youngest Premier League starter at 16 years and 144 days on the final day of the season . He was subsequently featured as the opening profile in the Guinness World Records Football Edition 2027's "Class of '27" . His rapid rise has been so impressive that Arsenal are reportedly considering a loan move for him once he turns 17 on 31 December .
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| Ethan Nwaneri lasted just over an hour against Werder Bremen(Image: AFP via Getty Images) |
A pattern of Ethan Nwaneri not finishing games for Borussia Dortmund continued on Friday night. The Arsenal loanee joined the Bundesliga side on deadline day and has started four league games.
The 19-year-old has yet to complete 90 minutes for the club. He's been brought off in each of his five starts across all competitions, with his latest substitution coming in Dortmund's 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen on Friday.
However, Nwaeri has enjoyed an unbeaten start to the new campaign. Dortmund currently sit top of the league with 13 point but Bayern Munich and Freiburg, who are both three points behind, have a game in hand.
Nwaneri's only goal contribution in Germany came when registering an assist on his debut against Hoffenheim and he has since struggled to make an impact in front of goal. He got closer to scoring his first goal on Friday but was denied by ex-Gunners goalkeeper Karl Hein on two occasions.
The teenager was then brought off after an hour and German media have had their say on his performance.
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| Ethan Nwaneri has yet to complete 90 minutes for Borussia Dortmund(Image: Getty Images) |
Germany's biggest newspaper, BILD, gave Nwaneri a grade of five for his performance, the joint-lowest for Dortmund alongside team-mate Marcel Sabitzer. The outlet may have been inclined to raise his rating if the referee hadn't disallowed his second-half goal for a foul.
BILD wrote: "But then Nwaneri scored a stunning bicycle kick (62nd minute) to seemingly give Dortmund the lead. Dortmund celebrated – but only briefly. The reason: Referee Christian Dingert ruled [Waldemar] Anton's slight push on [Niclas] Fullkrug an offensive foul. Therefore, VAR couldn't intervene. A bitter evening for Dortmund..."
Spox felt the 19-year-old struggled initially but his influence grew as the game went on, despite his end product still lacking. They gave him a rating of three out of six, with one the highest possible grade. They wrote: "Nwaneri initially remained relatively inconspicuous, but then developed into Dortmund's most dangerous player in front of goal.
"With his first truly good attacking move, he beautifully chipped the ball into Beier's path before his big chance (43rd minute). After that, several of his shots were either just a touch too inaccurate or were thwarted by the excellent Bremen goalkeeper Hein. He was then replaced by Silva after just over an hour. Rating: 3."
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| The 19-year-old was subbed off in the 63rd minute(Image: AP Photo/Martin Meissner) |
Goal's assessment also noted Nwaneri's inability to impact the game at key moments, but praised his technical ability. They gave the winger a six out of 10 rating and wrote: "The teenager showed good technical security on the flank but found it difficult to impact the game in the final third against a deep-sitting Bremen block.
"He was replaced by Fabio Silva just past the hour mark." Only Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier and Gregor Kobel received lower scores from the outlet, with Dortmund's trio all receiving 5/10 ratings.
- Fasika Zelealem
Mikel Arteta has long been known for his unusual ways of testing the Arsenal squad.
From hiring a pickpocket to steal his own player's wallets to directing travel disruption during pre-season, the Arsenal boss turns heads with regularity with his training-ground methods that are designed to keep the champions one step ahead of the pursuing pack.
Arteta was famed for his use of speakers in training (not just blasting You'll Never Walk Alone before a 4-0 defeat at Anfield in 2021) and has even brought in a team dog named Win.
Now, in the wake of agreeing new terms with the Gunners that have made him the Premier League's highest-paid boss, Arteta has revealed that his quirky practices began on his very first day on the job back in December 2019.
The then 37-year-old claimed he 'destroyed' an education centre at Arsenal's training centre, throwing 'the computers, the laptops, the cables' on the floor. He then requested his staff to reorganise the office in no time at all in order to prove their togetherness.
In an interview with The Athletic, Arteta explained: 'I said, "Listen, this is what I heard. I don’t know if it’s true. But from a lot of different people, the sentiment is that this is how they feel about working in the organisation. I’m here to help you enjoy your profession and your life and the passion that we all share. If you want me to help you to do that, you have two minutes to put this in order and at least to be ready to work together’. And I left.
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| Mikel Arteta has agreed terms on a lucrative new deal that keeps him at Arsenal until 2030 |
'That could have been my managerial career because if that would have stayed the same way, I had no job anymore!'
Arteta then outlined how he came back moments later and everything was 'immaculate'.
'Everyone was silent and had their eyes open and they were ready to listen. I said, "This is just the start. It’s something that we have to be in daily. Whatever we want to accomplish, we’re going to have to do it together. I cannot do it by myself. The issue that we have is much deeper than that, but the opportunity is infinite".
While peculiar, these methods are a core reason why Arteta has been able to propel Arsenal back to the top of English football.
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| Arteta has admitted that his first bizarre mangerial method was put into action on his first day in the job back in 2019 |
The 44-year-old wanted to inspire all of his players and staff to become one unit, an us-against-the-world mentality. He believed that by being all together as one, 'we can create a monster’, and that is what he has managed to do during his seven years at the helm.
'What I decided the day I accepted this incredible opportunity was I’m going to give my life, my soul, all my knowledge, and my best ability to deliver a dream - to connect this football club from top to bottom.
'Then I made a commitment with myself. I need to enjoy the journey and I’m going to the journey. Because I didn’t know how tough it was going to be, I had no experience, I never did it before. I have to be so alert, so curious, and just go day by day.'
After taking the club from tenth position in 2019 to Premier League champions, as well as reaching the Champions League final, Arteta has been rewarded with a lucrative new deal which boosts his salary – which was worth up to £15million with bonuses.
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| Arteta is famous for his unusual training methods and once blasted 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at his players in training ahead of their trip to Liverpool back in 2021 |
Arteta's new contract is understood to be worth around £20m per year and makes him the league's best-paid manager. Unai Emery, Andoni Iraola, Enzo Maresca and Roberto De Zerbi are all thought to earn in the £10-12m bracket annually, with Oliver Glasner not far behind.
The Spaniard's contract was due to expire next summer, but this new agreement shuts down any speculation over his future, running until 2030.
Arteta said: 'It's a privilege to commit my future to the club and to continue to work with exceptional people who want the best for Arsenal. This club is unique, its character and the way it makes you feel, and I have a great sense of privilege that our journey together will continue.
'We have already built a special bond and created memories that will last a lifetime, and what is so exciting is that this is only the beginning of what we can achieve together.
'I'm extremely grateful to Stan and Josh (Kroenke) for their trust and support, and feel honoured to be leading this club through such a special period in its 140-year history.
'This is such a proud moment for me and my family. I feel the love and respect from our fantastic supporters, and they have mine – and ours – in return.'
- HARRY BAMFORTH
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| Mikel Arteta has committed his future to Arsenal by signing a new contract which will keep him with the Premier League champions until the summer of 2030. Photograph: John Walton/PA Wire |
Mikel Arteta has promised “this is only the beginning” of what he can achieve as Arsenal manager after signing a new long-term contract that would take his reign at the club beyond a decade if he sees it out.
The Spaniard is understood to have signed a four-year deal worth more £20m (€24m) a season, making him the best-paid Premier League manager. That is a hefty pay rise in recognition of his success last season as Arsenal ended their 22-year wait to be crowned champions after three successive runners-up finishes.
Arteta, who took over from Unai Emery in December 2019, is the Premier League’s longest-serving manager after the departure of Pep Guardiola from Manchester City. After losing the Champions League final last season to Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout, the 44-year-old is targeting more success as he seeks to build a winning dynasty at Arsenal, where he previously served as captain under Arsène Wenger.
“It’s a privilege to commit my future to the club and to continue to work with exceptional people who want the best for Arsenal,” said Arteta. “This club is unique, its character and the way it makes you feel, and I have a great sense of privilege that our journey together will continue. We have already built a special bond and created memories that will last a lifetime, and what is so exciting is that this is only the beginning of what we can achieve together.
“This is such a proud moment for me and my family. I feel the love and respect from our fantastic supporters, and they have mine – and ours – in return.”
Arteta’s previous contract, which was due to expire at the end of this season, was believed to be worth about £10m a season plus a £5m bonus for reaching the Champions League. The new deal, to June 2030, cements his status as one of the best-paid managers in the world. His coaching staff have also signed extended deals.
“It has been an incredible journey so far and we are excited for what lies ahead in this special relationship,” said Arsenal’s co-chairs, Stan and Josh Kroenke. “Last season was an incredible moment in Arsenal’s history, a moment in which we created memories that will last a lifetime. We’re determined to create many more in the years ahead.
“We share a special bond with Mikel. We are so proud of everything we have achieved since he returned to the club in 2019. He has a deep understanding of Arsenal’s values and carries them in his heart. He knows what this club means to everyone connected to it and is committed to building on everything we have achieved together.”
Arsenal confirmed this week that they have shelved plans for a major expansion of the Emirates Stadium after Arteta is believed to have expressed concern over the disruption that would have been caused by any temporary move. His side face Leeds on Saturday as they attempt to bounce back from a surprise 3-0 defeat at Brighton before the international break that ended the champions’ 100 per cent start to the new campaign.
- Ed Aarons
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| © Iconsport / SUSA/Azzuu/SPP Sport Press Photo. /Alamy |
Arsenal attacker Kai Havertz will reportedly be sent home from the Germany camp after sustaining an injury in Thursday's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League.
The 27-year-old started as Jurgen Klopp's central striker during the League A Group 2 clash at the Amsterdam Arena, but his race was run with just 30 minutes on the clock.
Havertz pulled up with an apparent hamstring problem and left the field alongside medical staff, being replaced by Younes Ebnoutalib shortly before Felix Nmecha opened the scoring.
The Arsenal man also came off worse in a collision with Netherlands midfielder Quinten Timber, and Klopp confirmed that Havertz would undergo an MRI scan to determine the severity of the issue.
Now, The Athletic reports that Havertz will withdraw from the Germany camp, but there is 'optimism' that the former Chelsea man has not suffered a serious problem.
Havertz will be assessed by Arsenal's medical staff and will miss Germany's next three matches against Greece, Serbia and Greece again on September 27, October 1 and October 4 respectively.
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| © Imago / Maximilian Koch |
If Havertz has indeed suffered the least severe hamstring injury - a Grade 1 minor strain - there is a chance that the Germany international will not miss any fixtures for the Premier League champions.
Grade 1 issues may take up to a fortnight to heal, and as Arsenal's first game back against Leeds United is more than 14 days away, Havertz may be given the green light to lead the line against the Whites.
However, given the attacker's recent misfortune with injuries, it would not be a shock if he missed the visit of Daniel Farke's side on October 10, and the Champions League clash with Lille on October 13.
A Grade 2 problem may take between four and six weeks to heal, leaving Havertz at risk of missing crunch matches against Bayern Munich and Liverpool on October 21 and November 1 respectively.
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| © Iconsport / SUSA |
Mikel Arteta is well-versed in coping without Havertz, as the attacker has missed 63 games for club and country since joining Arsenal in 2023, including a whopping 41 fixtures in 2025-26.
Havertz has forced his way above Viktor Gyokeres in the pecking order this season, scoring three goals in six starts in all tournaments, but the latter will now be at the head of the queue for starts.
Gyokeres is Arteta's only other recognised centre-forward in the squad following Gabriel Jesus's exit, but in spite of Arsenal's failure to sign a new striker in the summer, two other players can step in for Havertz.
Arteta could enact the emergency Mikel Merino number nine protocol, which he has done to stellar effect; the Spaniard has 16 goal involvements from 23 games as a striker for Arsenal, according to Transfermarkt.
Alternatively, Christos Tzolis could start up front with Eberechi Eze or Noni Madueke deputising on the left, although the Greek has played as a centre-forward just 11 times at club level - failing to score or assist in any of those games.
- Ben Knapton
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| Arteta was furious with the decision (Picture: Shutterstock) |
The champions visited the Stadium of Light on Saturday September 12.
After a goalless first-half, Gunners defender Ezri Konsa was penalised for holding Sunderland’s Dan Ballard during a corner kick with referee John Brooks pointing to the spot.
Enzo Le Fee stepped up to take the penalty but was denied by David Raya. Less than two minutes later, Bruno Guimaraes scored to give Arsenal the lead with Bukayo Saka scoring again late on.
Despite the 2-0 win, the penalty incident infuriated Mikel Artera who described the decision as ‘unacceptable.’
It has now been revealed the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel have unanimously ruled that Sunderland’s penalty against Arsenal should not have been awarded.
The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents five-person panel unanimously disagreed with the on-field decision, stating: ‘Although it was a very untidy challenge in which Konsa initially had arms around Ballard, Ballard engages in a holding action which pulls Konsa onto him so they both fall to the floor.’
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| Konsa was penalised for hauling down Ballard (Picture: NurPhoto/Shutterstock) |
The panel gave majority 3-2 backing to the decision of VAR Stuart Attwell not to intervene, however, stating it was not a clear and obvious error.
After the match, Arteta said: ‘It’s unacceptable at this level. Unacceptable.
‘This can change the course of a season. The championship, it’s unacceptable.
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| Arsenal went onto win the game (Picture: 2026 Getty Images) |
‘I’ve seen it 10 times to make sure, because I watched it live, and I said ‘it’s not possible at this level that it’s going to be a penalty’. Because it’s a judo roll, that’s what it is. It cannot happen.
‘I’ve been in football for almost 27 years, 28 years, it’s not a penalty in any case, in any game, in any context, in any league.’
- Tony Mogan
