Ex-Arsenal striker Alan Smith has backed Max Dowman to shine again should he be given the nod in the side’s Champions League clash with Sporting this evening.

Dowman has burst out of Arsenal’s academy ranks to establish himself as one of the most exciting young talents in English football this season.

The 16-year-old attacker, who has long been tipped for a bright future while rising through the Hale End youth system, well and truly announced his arrival with a scintillating cameo appearance in the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Everton last month.

After providing the cross that led to Viktor Gyokeres’ opener, Dowman doubled Arsenal’s lead with a piece of solo brilliance which saw him become the youngest ever goalscorer in the Premier League.

Another record fell during the international break as Dowman’s wonder strike in a 6-0 thrashing of Portugal saw the teenager become the youngest scorer in the history of the England Under-19 team.

And while Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of Southampton at the weekend, Dowman’s meteoric rise continued as he came away from St Mary’s as the visitors’ standout player in what was only his third senior start.

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