Dowman on everyone's lips - Rooney's advice for Arsenal teen

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By coming off the bench in Arsenal's 5-0 triumph over Leeds United on Saturday, Dowman has established himself as the second-youngest player to represent the club, at the age of 15 years and 234 days.

Rooney belongs to a select group who can understand the experience of the Arsenal winger.

He made his debut for Everton at 16 years old in August 2002 and was just five days shy of turning 17 when he netted a remarkable last-minute winner against Arsenal two months later, thereby becoming the youngest scorer in Premier League history at that time.

"Playing in the Premier League at that age is insane," Rooney noted. "I know I made my debut young too, but he’s over 150 days younger than I was."

"It’s refreshing to see a young player get his chance, and, although he's with Arsenal, every time he cuts inside you think ‘shoot.’ You want him to find the top corner."

While Dowman didn't manage to score on his debut, he did win a penalty late in the game. Rooney was grateful that the responsibility of taking it did not fall to the 15-year-old.

"If he takes it and scores, that’s fantastic, but I was thinking if he misses, it could change everything from being a success story to facing criticism from some, albeit not everyone, online," the former Manchester United striker expressed.

"I was really happy he didn’t take it, but it was such an impressive debut overall."

The challenge for Dowman lies in staying grounded as his visibility increases and the buzz surrounding his potential escalates.

"For Max and his family and friends, I’m sure they feel like they’re in a dream and it probably hasn’t quite sunk in yet," Rooney said. "But his future looks incredibly bright; he’s destined for a significant career."

"When you talk to anyone in football, the name that keeps coming up is Max Dowman."

"It’s a ough situation for anyone. The first thing you need to do is stay close to family and friends."

"Listen to them because there will be people out there eager to be your friend or connect with you—some with good intentions and others not so much."

"It’s important to ensure that you surround yourself with those who are close to you and heed their advice rather than that of outsiders."

Apart from improving on the field, Rooney indicated that there are also significant changes off the pitch for a young player entering the first team.

"It feels unreal. It's quite odd that one moment you’re part of the youth team, and the next, you find yourself in the first-team locker room alongside some of your idols," Rooney shared.

"For me, these were figures I looked up to as I was growing up, and suddenly here we are training together, playing matches, and forming friendships.

"I spent time at Duncan Ferguson’s place since he lived on my street, just hanging out with him and Alan Stubbs. And it’s hard not to wonder, 'What is happening here?'

"It’s an experience you really need to acclimate to quickly because it can be quite intense.

"Max Dowman appears to be a very grounded young man based on what I've observed, and I hope he can navigate this situation and is ready for what’s ahead shortly.

Rooney's heartfelt counsel for Dowman is straightforward.

"Relish it. I have no doubt that we’ll witness a lot from him, including his immense talent, goals, and assists," he remarked.

"Alan Stubbs used to tell me many years ago, ‘Make sure you enjoy it, as it passes by very quickly.’

"When you're young, you might not realize that or tend to forget it sometimes, but savor the moment and take full advantage of it."