‘I couldn’t believe it’ – Cristhian Mosquera stunned by ‘incredible’ Arsenal star in training

Cristhian Mosquera has likened Max Dowman to Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and admits he ‘couldn’t believe’ the level the youngster was playing at when he first arrived at Arsenal.

Dowman joined Arsenal at the age of just four and has long been tipped for future stardom while rising through the academy ranks, often competing in higher age groups throughout his development.

The 15-year-old began training with Arsenal’s first-team last December and has been working with Mikel Arteta’s main group regularly from that point onwards – even travelling to the club’s warm-weather camp in Dubai the following month.

But Dowman well and truly burst onto the scene with a string of electric performances in pre-season – and the England Under-19 international hasn’t looked back, featuring three times for the Gunners in all competitions this term.

Arteta even entrusted Dowman to come on in Arsenal’s crunch mate with title rivals Liverpool as the north Londoners searched in vain for a late equaliser at Anfield.

The teenager will no doubt be desperate to get more first-team minutes under his belt over the coming weeks and months, with Arsenal resuming their Premier League campaign away to Fulham this Saturday.

‘I don’t mean to compare, but his style and way of playing is like Lamine Yamal. His movements are Lamine-esque,’ Mosquera – who joined Arsenal from Valencia this summer – told The Athletic.

‘I didn’t have him on my radar and when I got to Singapore, he was already training and playing. When they told me he was 15, I couldn’t believe it.

‘He really is an incredible player, and I think he’s going to be world-class.

‘You see 17 and 18-year-olds like Myles [Lewis-Skelly] or Ethan [Nwaneri] and they play like they’re 30, like they’ve been playing football their whole lives. It’s incredible.’

Mosquera’s adjustment to life in Arsenal’s first-team has been similarly seamless, with the defender having sealed a £13m move from Valencia in July.

Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are widely considered to be among the most accomplished centre-back pairings in Europe and the 21-year-old will have known the fierce competition for places that awaited him at the Emirates.

But Mosquera has shown maturity beyond his years when given the nod by Arteta and the young Spaniard is ‘very happy’ with how his debut season has panned out.

On his current role, Mosquera explained: ‘When I made my debut for Valencia at 17, you felt like you were improving, that you wanted to play a lot more, but you had to be patient, you had to know where you were at that moment.

‘Those are the times you have to go through. Right now at Arsenal, I know I’m capable of playing, I’m surrounded by great players who are going to help me improve and grow.

‘I’m playing quite a lot and I’m very happy.’

Asked which qualities have allowed to settle so quickly, Mosquera replied: ‘A bit of that calmness.

‘As well as being intense in the way I play, not being nervous on the pitch is one of the things which has helped me.

‘I don’t think they the fans knew much about me. I made an impact that has made people happy and I’ve shown them I’m capable.’

Arsenal will look to tighten their grip on top spot when they return to action in an all-London affair at Craven Cottage this weekend.

Arteta’s men are riding a four-game winning streak in all competitions, buoyed by Liverpool’s sudden dip in form.

Fulham enter the match following back-to-back defeats at the hands of Aston Villa and Bournemouth, with Marco Silva’s side languishing down in 14th place.

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