The Premier League title was seemingly slipping from the grasp of Arsenal – it was 0-0 and they didn’t look for the world like they had a chance of scoring.
Mikel Arteta, who had been jumping for every header and kicking every ball, had watched his side offer next to nothing creatively, and so he looked to his bench. There wasn’t too much in terms of senior quality so he turned to 16-year-old Max Dowman.
The young teenage sensation and been impeccable against Mansfield but this was a different task. Everton had been compact throughout the game and were looking ready to deliver a hammer blow to Arsenal’s title hopes.
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Moans and groans were coming from all four corners of the Emirates, but when Dowman took to the pitch there was a small sense of renewed hope inside the ground.
Each and every Arsenal fan knows how special this kid is, and so too do Arsenal’s players as they gave him the football at every opportunity.
There was a shot that flashed over the bar from Dowman, but that was the only moment he put a foot wrong. The 16-year-old put the Gunners on his young shoulders and hauled them 10 points clear of Manchester City.
(Image: AP)
As the clock ticked over into the 90th minute, Dowman delivered an inch perfect cross into the box. Jordan Pickford was caught in two minds as he tried to punch the ball clear.
Instead it would drop to Viktor Gyokeres, who could hardly miss. The stadium that though it was watching the title slip through their hands, again, was suddenly an explosion of noise.
And he wasn’t yet done, Everton pushed for an equaliser and Dowman picked up the ball in his own half, weaved past two players and walked the ball into an empty net. 2-0.
There will be glances from north London this evening as Manchester City are in action against West Ham.
The top two still have to play each other in the run-in – and their dress rehearsal in the Carabao Cup final next weekend could be crucial in delivering a huge physiological blow.
In the meantime, there’s another Champions League match on the menu for Arsenal.