“Might need someone like him to lean on”

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Max Dowman will be a key player for Arsenal in the remaining Premier League matches. He claims that the teenager does not have the mental scars of previous seasons, which will be handy for Mikel Arteta.

Speaking on his YouTube channelFerdinand heaped praise on Dowman, hailing him as an important player for Arteta’s side this season. He said that the teenager is playing fearless football and that will play an important role in matches where the Gunners are not able to do much with their first-team players.

“He could be the key to Mikel Arteta getting Arsenal over the line, I think he’s that good. He’s not got the mental scars that the other players have because of what they’ve gone through in previous seasons.”

“You might need someone like him to lean on and tell him to be fearless and help us through it, without giving him too much responsibility. He could be a massive key for Arsenal in that sense.”

The Gunners have finished runners-up in the league for the last three seasons, twice behind Manchester City and once to Liverpool. They have a nine point gap over the Cityzens with seven matches left, but Pep Guardiola’s side have a match in hand and also face Mikel Arteta’s side later this month.

Rio Ferdinand wants Arsenal star at the FIFA World Cup

Rio Ferdinand has urged Thomas Tuchel to pick Max Dowman for England’s FIFA World Cup squad this summer. He believes special talent like the Arsenal teenager should be given chances and said:

“I think he has to go (to the World Cup). I think he’s special. He’s doing the same thing he did through every age group in the Premier League against grown men. He’s been doing the same thing in training against Arsenal players who are top of the Premier League. Even the players there are going ‘wow’, even the manager is saying he’s not seen anything like this from a player so young.

“It’s crazy. Those talents have to go – Michael Owen went to the World Cup young and blew up the whole world. You have to give these talents the experience and even if he went there and didn’t play it would be useful for him to get used to the environment and playing at a tournament.”

The Gunners star was not called up by Thomas Tuchel for the England friendlies in March, but he admitted keeping tabs on the teenager.