There is a lot of optimism for Arsenal this season, as there is some distance from the unfortunate loss to Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta, for example, was supported in a great way in the summer with players such as Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Nuni Maduke.
Plus, in addition to these new players, Hale End appears to have created another superstar to create an unrealistic Max Dowman club.
The teenager already looks comfortable in the senior game and appears to have a bright future ahead of him, but there was another academy superstar who was once predicted to do big things and is now worth less than £1 million.
Max Dowman’s rapid rise
With the exception of Champions League runs, it’s fair to say last season was one of the most fun campaigns Arsenal fans have had for some time.
But the appearance of Ethan Nwanelli and Miles Lewis Skelly was a really bright spot, but even so, even if they infiltrated the first team, there was a story about an even more exciting prospect at the academy – a 14-year-old who played beyond his year.
Of course, this is Dowman, and looking at his statistics from last season, it’s easy to understand why, like Jacek Kulig, he declares that he is the “most exciting outlook” he has seen “since Ramin Yamal”.
For example, in just 23 appearances, a total of 1945 minutes, he placed the ball behind 19 net goals and provided five assists appropriately.
These numbers forced young people to take this year’s preseason tour. And fans were able to see for the first time why so many people are so excited about him as he got off the bench against Newcastle United and scored a penalty in a short time.
But the most important indication of how highly the club values teenagers is that he is now a regular part of the first team, not only did he make his Premier League debut against Leeds United, but he also felt comfortable quelling him at Anfield when the team needed a goal.
Overall, it’s still very early, but the hype around Douman is beginning to be justified. Unfortunately, this was never the case with the former Hale Ender, who is defending trade in Europe.
Arsenal’s original douman
Every year there is a new set of exciting academy talents that will excite fans, but sometimes there is more. There are expectations, and while Douman appears to meet the expectations the fans have for him, Charlie Patino has failed to live up to the expectations people have.
It seems like it was a long time ago, but young people were expected to be the next big thing that many people would come out of the Hale End.
For example, in October 2021, former Gunners mysterious Jack Wilshire told the press that the young man “will make his name in the future” and that “everyone on the training ground is talking about.”
As if that wasn’t enough, Arsenal scout Brian Stapton claimed that Scout Sean O’Connor, who discovered Wilshire, said Patino was “the best player who’s ever walked the door to Hale End.”
Hype was only fueled further when “golden” young people were dubbed Talent Scout Jacek Kuligcame out of the bench to make the club’s competitive debut in a League Cup match against Sunderland in 2021 and scored.
Arsenal, where normal first-team football is the next step, first sent an exciting Wonderkid to Blackpool and then Swansea City with many loan spells.
However, he was OK during this time, but the total tally of seven goals and eight assists in 72 games did not suggest that he was ready to play under Arteta.
Patino’s loan record | ||
|---|---|---|
team | Black Pool | Swansea |
exterior | 37 | 35 |
the goal | 3 | 4 |
assist | 4 | 4 |
Involvement of goals for each match | 0.18 | 0.22 |
All statistics through the transfer market | ||
Unfortunately, he made 12 appearances last year, so things didn’t go well at the age of 21.
Naturally, this looks at his rating tank, and according to TransferMarkt, the previous next big thing is now worth 600,000 euros.
Ultimately, it’s probably safe to say that Patino still has enough time to build a great career for himself, but the hype and pressure placed on his shoulders weren’t justified.
