Jack Wilshere’s Remarkable Story About Max Dowman

Jack Wilshere, former Arsenal midfielder (2008-2018) and current coach of Luton, has praised young Arsenal talent Max Dowman (15 years old), whom he worked with at the club’s academy. “He’s better than I was at his age,” Wilshere said in an interview with the Mirror, expressing his admiration for the midfielder’s skills and maturity. Wilshere highlighted Dowman’s influence, comparing him to former greats like Cesc Fàbregas: “Cesc used to guide me; he was a role model on and off the pitch. Max has that same presence—he observes, learns, and already shows leadership qualities.” He further noted, “The most important thing about Max is that he’s a great kid. He comes from a wonderful family. His mother is amazing, and his father would do anything for him and wants the best for his son.”

Wilshere also shared a telling anecdote about the young player: “It’s hard to say because I don’t want to be the one who says, ‘he’ll become this or that.’ But I remember putting him into a match with the U18s when he was just 13, and we were playing against Southampton, a very strong youth team. We were leading 2-0, and I told my assistant, ‘Let’s bring in Max.’ I stood next to him, and he was already taller than me! I said, ‘Max, remember, you’re up against players five years older than you. Don’t worry about physical challenges; just move the ball.’ He came on and immediately dribbled past three players, crossed it, and we scored. I looked at my assistant, and I’d never seen anything like it before.” These words from the 33-year-old Englishman highlight the bright future that seems to lie ahead for Dowman.