FOURTH ROUND
October 29, 2025
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Another clean sheet for Kepa and another 2-0 win, this time at Emirates Stadium, in a game remembered for 15-year-old Max Dowman making his first start.
THE: Max is such a big talent. It’s such a different situation because it’s unusual to have a 15-year-old playing at the maximum level, playing at Arsenal. He’s not just playing anywhere; he’s at Arsenal, playing the biggest games in football. He’s a very serious guy, very humble, he’s a hard worker and he has to keep doing the same.
He has a brilliant future in front of him, he has everything to shine. We, and I mean everybody around him, have to take care of him, especially at this early age. Then he’s going to fly alone, but he’s still a teenager who wants to enjoy it, so don’t put pressure on him.
When we are on the pitch, we are on the pitch to win, so it doesn’t matter if you are 35, if you are 20 or 15. At the end, we have to push and go in the same way. But then off the pitch, it’s normal that he behaves in different ways. We have to help him, but let him be free. He’s doing very well, he’s a big talent.
It’s not just Max, sometimes we forget that Myles and Ethan are only 18 as well and playing for Arsenal in their second season. They are going to be a big part of the club in the future. The guys who come from the academy know what it is to be at Arsenal and they have the talent to play for this club. So a big shout out to our academy, because if these guys were at another club we would love to have them!
To see their journey reminds me of my own career a bit because I started to train with the first team when I was 16. I didn’t play first-team football then, but I was there. I was training, I was in the changing room. So I can remember those days, especially how you’re feeling at the beginning, how nervous you are in the first couple of sessions. You are enjoying being around big names and try to learn every little detail from everyone.
If we are talking about young players, then we should talk about Tommy Setford too, because he is just 20 and doing very well. He’s a good guy, a very hard worker, always ready to go. How humble he is and how much he works is the key for me.
I think he has all the capacities to be a great goalkeeper and he’s in great hands. I can see the development from him in the six months that I’ve been here, so hopefully he can keep going the same way. When you are at his age and you play or train with world-class players, everything is good for you. You can learn a lot and it makes you better and better every day.
