During Arsenal’s pre-season fixture against Villarreal, the two largest cheers from the Emirates crowd were reserved for two players at very different stages of their careers.

The first eruption came before kick-off for a 27-year-old striker who has accumulated over £85m in combined transfer fees. The second, an hour into the game, was for a 15-year-old playing only his fifth first-team game.

Eyeballs were drawn to Viktor Gyokeres , the striker signed to turn the challengers into champions, but there was just as much anticipation around Max Dowman, Arsenal’s latest boy wonder.

The hype over Dowman’s potential is not new. Engaged Gunners fans have been aware of him for some time, taking notice when he played for the under-18s at just 13 or hopping aboard the bandwagon the following yea

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