Max Dowman scored twice in his first senior game of the season as Arsenal beat Ipswich Town 4-2 in the third round of the League Cup at Portman Road on Wednesday.
The 16-year-old made an immediate impact after being handed his first start of the campaign by Mikel Arteta.
Dowman opened the scoring after only seven minutes. He won the ball in midfield and played a one-two with Eberechi Eze before driving towards goal.
He got past two defenders and calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Arsenal the lead.
Noni Madueke made it 2-0 in the 16th minute. Mikel Merino flicked the ball into his path before Madueke fired home. Arsenal took their two-goal lead into half time before Dowman struck again just two minutes after the restart.
Martin Zubimendi found him with a pass inside the area. Dowman controlled the ball before placing his finish into the far bottom corner.
His brace also put him alongside Wayne Rooney as only the second 16-year-old to score twice in a game for a Premier League club in any competition. Rooney achieved the feat for Everton against Wrexham in the League Cup in 2002.
Merino added Arsenal’s fourth goal in the 58th minute. He fired a low effort in off the inside of the post to put the visitors 4-0 ahead.
Ipswich responded four minutes later through Anis Mehmeti. Jack Clarke provided the pass before Mehmeti finished to reduce the deficit. The hosts scored again in stoppage time when Chuba Akpom turned and finished to make it 4-2.
But Arsenal had already done enough to book their place in the fourth round. Both teams made major changes from their weekend league matches. Arsenal also gave 17-year-old centre-back Marli Salmon his first start of the season.
The Gunners will learn their fourth-round opponents after the remaining third-round ties are completed.
