Ipswich Town 2-4 Arsenal: Dowman leads the way in EFL Cup success

Max Dowman scored the first brace of his career as Arsenal overcame Ipswich Town 4-2 in the EFL Cup third round.

The 16-year-old also assisted Mikel Merino at Portman Road, while Noni Madueke also got on the scoresheet before Anis Mehmeti and Chuba Akpom scored consolation goals for Gary O'Neil's side.

Arsenal only needed seven minutes to take the lead as Dowman played a one-two with Eberechi Eze before wonderfully skipping past Cedric Kipre and firing into the bottom-left corner from close range.

And the Gunners doubled their advantage just nine minutes later, with Bruno Guimaraes pouncing on a poor pass from Christian Walton before Merino's deflected pass was volleyed in by Madueke from the right side of the box.

It was a similar start to the second half, with Dowman netting his second just two minutes after the restart as he collected a pass from Martin Zubimendi before curling past Walton, while stand-in captain Merino finished from the edge of the box just before the hour.

Ipswich did pull one back in the 62nd minute through Mehmeti, who had skied a good chance in the first half, after substitute Jack Clarke made an immediate impact off the bench to assist the Albanian.

Arsenal controlled the game from there on in, but former Gunners striker Akpom was able to reduce the deficit to two goals in stoppage time after his shot on the swivel was deflected past a helpless Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Dowman stakes his claim

Ahead of this fixture, Mikel Arteta said Dowman would have to fight for his minutes just like any other Arsenal player, and the teenage sensation has certainly done his chances no harm with this performance.

He recorded the joint-most shots of any Arsenal player (three), being responsible for 0.34 of Arsenal's 0.95 expected goals (xG), while also leading his side in duels won (7/15) and possessions won in the final third (three).

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.

And Dowman (16 years, 258 days) is the second youngest player to score for a Premier League side in the EFL Cup after Cesc Fabregas (16y 212d), who did so for Arsenal in 2003, while former Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere (16y 266d) is the third youngest.