Gary Lineker Names the Arsenal Player Who Impressed Him Most During Pre-Season

Arsenal kicked off their preseason campaign toward the end of July, spending the final week of their summer tour in Singapore and Hong Kong. The Gunners played three friendly matches as they prepared for the upcoming 2025/26 Premier League season.

New Signings and Academy Talent Shine

The preseason fixtures featured several new faces, including summer signings Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP, Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia, and a surprise double swoop from Chelsea in Christian Nørgaard and Noni Madueke.

In addition to the big-name arrivals, a few exciting academy prospects were also given the chance to impress. Among them were Max Dowman, Josh Nichols, and Marli Salman — all earning valuable first-team minutes on the tour.

Mixed Results on the Pitch

Arsenal won two of their three preseason matches, defeating AC Milan on July 23 and Newcastle United in a tightly contested fixture shortly after. However, their only defeat came at the hands of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who edged them in a fiery encounter in Hong Kong.

Despite the mixed results, several individual performances stood out — but one name in particular caught the attention of fans and pundits alike.

Max Dowman Steals the Spotlight

Veteran football pundit Gary Lineker was full of praise for 15-year-old midfielder Max Dowman, who turned heads with mature and confident displays throughout the tour.

“Everyone’s talking about this 15-year-old boy,” Lineker said on The Rest Is Football podcast.

“Max Dowman. I mean, he’s been featuring in some of the friendlies. I saw him play the game against your lot, Alan. It was Newcastle, wasn’t it? Boy, oh boy — he did some amazing stuff. He looks like a man already, and he’s got so much talent.”

Dowman’s composure, passing range, and game intelligence have quickly made him a fan favorite, and there is growing excitement about his potential.

No Premier League Minutes… Yet

Despite his impressive showings, Arsenal reportedly have no immediate plans to include Dowman in their Premier League squad. With a deep midfield and intense competition for places, the club is expected to carefully manage the teenager’s development over the course of the season.

Still, his breakthrough on the preseason tour has planted the seed — and it may not be long before Max Dowman becomes a regular name on Mikel Arteta’s teamsheet.