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Mikel Arteta is hoping that Lionel Messi's latest ad campaign — which featured teenage sensation Max Dowman among 10 players predicted to shape soccer's future — proves to be spot on.
As Messi begins to wind down his illustrious career — marked most recently by his emotional farewell to the Argentine national side — the spotlight is shifting toward the rising stars who could potentially step into his legendary footsteps in the not-too-distant future.
Fueling that sense of generational transition, a new adidas advertisement features Messi seemingly handpicking the emerging talents he believes will define the next era of the beautiful game.
Skeptics may point out that all 10 players happen to be adidas-sponsored athletes, making it more likely a marketing department decision than a genuine personal endorsement from Messi. Nevertheless, Arsenal's Dowman has already demonstrated — at just 16 years old — the kind of ability that suggests he could develop into a world-class talent in time.
The question of Messi's apparent endorsement of Dowman was put to Arteta during the week.
"If Messi, who is the greatest player of all time, says that … his eye for talent is better than anyone else's. Hopefully he's right," the Arsenal manager responded.
Regardless of whether the endorsement truly reflects Messi's personal view, Dowman's record speaks for itself. He featured in Arsenal's Under-18s at 13 and the Under-21s at 14. He holds the record as the Premier League's youngest ever goalscorer and its second youngest player. Dowman is also the youngest Premier League title winner and the youngest player ever to appear in the Champions League.
This season, Dowman has netted twice in a Carabao Cup win for Arsenal and made one Premier League outing, while continuing to feature for the Under-21s. The Essex-born youngster won't turn 17 — and thus won't be legally eligible to drive in the U.K. — until December 31.
"In the limited appearances he's had, he's already done extraordinary things. He's someone who is blessed with a truly special gift," Arteta said.
"He's a pleasure to watch. The way he moves, the way he controls the ball, the way he carries himself — it's just different. And that's what sets him apart."
What's the Next Step for Max Dowman?
While we've seen the likes of JJ Gabriel and his family grow restless at Manchester United, there is absolutely no need to rush Dowman at this point in his development.
Arteta clearly holds him in high regard, and Dowman is already receiving far more first-team opportunities than most players his age ever would. Jack Wilshere — himself a former Arsenal prodigy and now the club's Under-18s manager when Dowman made his debut at that level — recently offered a glimpse into just how extraordinary the youngster's potential is.
"Don't get into a duel, take one or two touches, move it around," Wilshere, appearing as a guest on Stick to Football, recalled telling a then 13-year-old Dowman, who was up against players as many as five years his senior. "He picked up the ball, dribbled past five players, squared it and we [scored]. I have never seen anything like it.
"He progressed with us and developed further, and physically his numbers were ridiculous … the metrics they use now — high-speed running, sprints, total distance — were at Premier League level and he was only 14. He can achieve whatever he sets his mind to. He's also got a strong support network around him."
Wilshere noted that the key next step for Dowman is to "get into the team and stay in the team," which may require some flexibility regarding his position on the field.
"When he played under me, we used him across all the midfield positions and he handled every one of them," Wilshere explained. "It's fairly common for a young player to break into the [senior] side out wide. He'll likely need to play on the flanks if he wants a consistent run in the team."
On the whole, Wilshere agreed with podcast host Gary Neville's suggestion that Dowman will ultimately flourish in a No. 10 role, much like current Gunners skipper Martin Ødegaard. Dislodging Bukayo Saka on the right for any sustained period will be just as difficult as unseating Ødegaard, though both players have had their share of injury concerns. The left flank — an area Arsenal failed to strengthen with a marquee signing last summer — could offer Dowman a more realistic route to regular first-team football.
"We haven't seen much of Max on the left," Arteta said on the matter. "We need to try him in a new position at some point. I think he'll have the ability to adapt."
Dowman has no shortage of experienced figures looking after his development. Beyond Arteta's guidance, Ødegaard himself was once a teenage prodigy thrust into the global spotlight at 16, with Europe's biggest clubs vying for his signature before he chose Real Madrid. He understands this journey from personal experience.
"He's unbelievable. The talent is so clear, I think everyone can see it," the Norwegian said of Dowman in a BBC Sport interview. "I don't want to put too much pressure on him, but he's a special, special player, and we're going to look after him and support him."