Max Dowman (foto: Getty Images)
Max Dowman makes history as the youngest Premier League scorer after netting for Arsenal against Everton.
Arsenal moved one step closer to the Premier League title after defeating Everton 2-0 in a dramatic match that also produced a historic moment.
The spotlight ultimately belonged to Max Dowman, who scored in stoppage time and became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history while wearing the Arsenal shirt.
The breakthrough arrived late in the match.
In the 89th minute, Jordan Pickford made a costly mistake in goal for Everton. The ball fell perfectly for Viktor Gyökeres, who calmly finished from close range to give Arsenal a crucial 1-0 lead.
Moments later came the historic scene.
During the seventh minute of added time, the 16-year-old Dowman received the ball during a counterattack, carried it across the halfway line, and calmly finished into an empty net.
Pickford had rushed forward moments earlier for Everton’s last corner and could not recover in time to stop the young Arsenal midfielder.
The goal sealed the 2-0 victory and confirmed Dowman’s place in Premier League history.
The win also carries enormous importance in the title race.
Arsenal now sit ten points ahead of Manchester City, although the defending champions still have two matches in hand.
Manchester United currently occupies third place but remain nineteen points behind the Gunners, which leaves the championship battle mainly between Arsenal and City.
The schedule ahead will bring a temporary pause in league action for Mikel Arteta’s team.
Over the next month Arsenal will focus on cup competitions, facing Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, Manchester City in the EFL Cup, and Southampton in the FA Cup.
Still, the night will be remembered above all for one extraordinary moment.
A 16-year-old Arsenal talent stepping onto the biggest stage in English football and writing his name into the record books.