Mikel Arteta has warned the media against going overboard when it comes to Arsenal youngster Max Dowman.

The 16-year-old became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history on Saturday when he scored Arsenal's second goal in a 2-0 win over Everton.

Dowman broke the record set by James Vaughan, who scored in a 4-0 win for Everton, coincidentally managed by David Moyes at the time, as they are now, in a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in April 2005. Arteta also scored for the Toffees in that game.

He also played a key role in Arsenal's 89th-minute opener, which came about when Jordan Pickford misjudged Dowman's cross, enabling Viktor Gyokeres to pounce.

Dowman has played just 46 minutes in the Premier League, but that has not stopped some in the media suggesting he could even earn an England call-up ahead of this year's World Cup, while he was compared to Lionel Messi by former Chelsea defender John Terry.

Arteta, though, asked for cool heads to prevail.

"We need to bring the temperature down and understand what the best thing is for this boy at this age," said the Arsenal manager ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

"He's doing something phenomenal, we all know that.

"Let's keep it down a little bit and respect the nature to do what he has to do – I'm sure he’s going to do something really good."

61.3 metres.

That’s how far Max Dowman carried the ball before scoring his breakaway goal against Everton.

The Arsenal teenager’s run now ranks among the longest carries leading to a goal in Premier League history: pic.twitter.com/TrJqNxh4dn

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) March 16, 2026

Asked if he shared the excitement over Dowman's potential, Arteta replied: "My way to express it is to give him game time. What else can I do? The rest is in your hands.

"Yes, very exciting. Enough!"

Dowman, who is still in school, has played just seven senior matches, but Arteta suggested he is ready to take on more minutes now he has recovered from an injury that kept him out for much of the season.

"Yeah, regularly, depending on what you call regularly," Arteta said.

"Depending on the game and how he reacts, I think his reaction has been really positive, and in relation to what we need in the game, there's always a possibility [he will play].

"To do what he did in such a moment, very rare to see or impossible almost. He's done it and now it's football and what you've done a few days ago is not relevant anymore, it's about the next one."