'Exceptional talent' Dowman is ready to shine as he leads exciting Gunners cohort of rising stars

IT WAS an iconic piece of commentary to celebrate a superstar in the making.

- By John Cross

"Remember the name: Wayne Rooney!" screamed Clive Tyldesley after Everton's rising star scored a wonder goal against Arsenal on October 19, 2002, five days before his 17th birthday.

We may soon have a new name to remember. Arsenal's Max Dowman does not turn 16 until December 31 and looks set to take his place in the Premier League record books this season.

The Essex lad has been training with manager Mikel Arteta's first team for nearly two years. Gunners midfielder Declan Rice described him as "the best 15-year-old in the country" and an Arsenal academy coach, Gustavo Oliveira, likened him to Brazil legend Kaka.

Dowman, who starred in Arsenal's preseason tour of Asia, is still at school and has to get special permission to join training.

He was allowed time off from lessons to team up with the senior stars on the Gunners' mid-season break in Dubai in February.

Dowman played for England's Under-17s at this summer's European Championship and became the competition's youngest scorer.