Mikel Arteta lauded the display of Max Dowman in Arsenal's EFL Cup win over Ipswich Town, but insisted the club must protect the teenager.
Arteta: Brilliant Dowman made the difference
Max Dowman scored the first brace of his career in Arsenal's EFL Cup win over Ipswich Town, earning high praise from Mikel Arteta.
Dowman scored twice as Arsenal defeated Ipswich 4-2 in the third round of the competition, with Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino also getting on the scoresheet for the Gunners.
Dowman is just the second 16-year-old to score two goals in a game for a Premier League side in all competitions, after Wayne Rooney in October 2002 for Everton against Wrexham, also in the EFL Cup.
The three youngest scorers in the competition for Premier League sides all did so for Arsenal, with Dowman (16 years 258 days) the second-youngest behind Cesc Fabregas (16y 212d) and ahead of Jack Wilshere (16y 266d).
He recorded the joint-most shots of any Arsenal player (three), while also leading his side in duels won (8/17) and possessions won in the final third (three), and Arteta was impressed with the 16-year-old's performance.
"Max was brilliant. Some actions made the difference and were outstanding," Arteta told Sky Sports.
"We know the talent, and we have to look after him. The environment around him is really good, so step by step.
"He is only 16 years old, and we have to be careful. We don't want to stop him, but we need to develop him.
"We're fully aware of what he needs, and he will have full opportunities to play."
Ipswich got on the scoresheet through Anis Mehmeti and former Arsenal player Chuba Akpom, though both goals came after going 4-0 down before the hour.
Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil felt his side paid the price for costly mistakes, with both of Arsenal's first two goals coming from the Tractor Boys failing to play out of danger.
"I thought we got punished heavily," O'Neil told the club's media channels.
"They didn't have loads of shots, and when they did, they went in.
"It was one of those games where you felt like it got away from you really, really quickly without doing too much wrong; [we were] punished heavily for a couple of mistakes.
"Obviously, they're a good side; we fought back well, made the scoreline look closer to what it should have been."
