MAX DRIVES 'EM NUTS

Kid Dowman making big impression

- BY JOHN CROSS Chief Football Writer

ARSENAL wonderkid Max Dowman has already proved he is ready for the Carabao Cup after nutmegging his teammates in training.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta revealed he has put 15-year-old Dowman in the first-team squad to face League One Port Vale tonight.

It could be quite the baptism of fire for Dowman - who made his first-team debut for the Gunners against Leeds last month aged just 15 years and 234 days - but he is already taking it all in his stride.

Arteta said they have had to plan the teenager's training alongside his schoolwork, give him a special diet and even think about his sleep patterns.

But Arteta said that Dowman quickly proved himself among his more senior teammates, as he has been training with them for a year, and soon learned how to deal with the rough stuff if he nutmegged them.