Max Douman joins Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly in proving Arsenal's Hale End academy is their greatest asset

Max Dowan made his Premier League debut aged 15 years and 235 days, making him the second-youngest player to do so after Hale End academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri. The Arsenal academy continues to play a key role in producing one of the most expensive squads in world football.

Pictured: Max Doman, 15, shone on his debut in Arsenal's 5-0 win against Leeds.

The Emirates erupted in applause every time the ball fell to Max Dowan’s feet. As in the friendlies, his teammates were constantly looking for ways to give him the initiative in attack. The reason is clear: the 15-year-old is showing exceptional potential.

Dowen made his debut against Leeds as the second-youngest debutant in the history of the league, which is already a historic event. However, the biggest surprise was his dominance on the pitch – despite his young age, he looked most dangerous in attacking actions.

The opponents had no answer for him. The penalty won at the end of the game was a spectacular end to a bright debut. On a day of dramatic turns, injuries and first goals, it was schoolboy Dowen, not yet 16 years old, who became the central figure of the event.

“We see it every day in training,” Mikel Arteta commented after the final whistle. But to do it on the big stage is something special. “At 15, that kind of confidence and skill is something I’ve never seen before,” the Gunners coach added.

Read also: Max Dowen – Arsenal's new young genius
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Theo Walcott and Jamie Redknapp analyse Max Doman's performance against Leeds, highlighting his unique abilities.

Dowan is arguably the brightest product of Arsenal's academy in recent years, showing remarkable maturity for his age. But he is just the latest in a string of talents to emerge from the club's system.

Hale End continues to be a breeding ground for stars.

Three academy graduates were on the pitch for Saturday's final game: in addition to Douman, Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly, the latter of whom, despite being 18, are already considered experienced first-team players.

Bukayo Saka, who inspired his young colleagues and became a symbol of the club's youth policy, scored a goal but left the field due to injury. Another Hale End graduate watched the game of newcomer Eberechi Eze.

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Jamie Redknapp and Theo Walcott have praised Eberechi Eze's performances for Arsenal following his debut at the Emirates.

Eze stands out for having left the academy at the age of 13 to pursue a career in professional football. His return was a special occasion for fans. In Saturday's match, he was welcomed not only as a product of the youth academy but also as a long-time supporter of the club.

In the match programme, Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke emphasised the importance of the new deals with Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri. “They represent the spirit of the club,” he said. For Eze, too, Arsenal has become part of his identity.

“It's a proud and emotional thing,” Arteta said of Douman's breakthrough, a sentiment that could apply to all academy graduates.

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The best moments from Arsenal's 5-0 thrashing of Leeds

The connection that the youngsters have with the club and the fans is just one aspect of their value. Arsenal-trained players like Saka, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly and Doman strengthen the squad without the financial cost of transfers.

At 15, it is too early to evaluate Doman. Transfer value will appear only after signing the first professional contract at 16. For now, this is not a priority.

However, the player's growth potential is impressive at a team that is already the second most valuable in the world after Real Madrid.

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Arsenal have built a squad worth £1.14bn at a cost of £826m. No other Premier League club has such a price-to-value ratio.

This is largely due to productive work with young people.

According to Transfermarkt, Saka is valued at £129.3m, confirming his world-class status. At 23, he remains the academy's crown jewel, with his peak yet to come.

Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly have not yet reached Saka's level, but their progress at 18 has been impressive. The former is valued at £48m, the latter at £39m and their development is expected to continue, as has Doman.

The players' success is determined by the efforts of their families and the work of Academy Director Per Mertesacker and the team of coaches who oversee the development of talent at Hale End.

Also important is a trusted coach in Arteta, whose links with Mertesacker have ensured the synchronisation of the academy and the first team, opening the way for youngsters to join the first team.

Since last season, Arsenal have given more minutes to Under-18 players than any other team in the league. Even departed academy players such as Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah have generated sales revenue.

Arteta had spoken personally to Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly before they were promoted to the first team, a rarity for a manager, but the real breakthrough came after they were included in the first team.

The coaching played a role: Saka changed from a full-back to a winger, and Lewis-Skelly changed his position from central midfield to left-back.

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Gary Neville analyses Arsenal's potential ahead of Liverpool, even without Saka and Martin Odegaard.

Dowman's future is still uncertain. He currently plays in a Saka-style fashion, moving from wide to central. But his versatility means he can be deployed in other positions, including central midfield.

The prospects are intriguing. His young age calls for caution – he still has a year to go before his GCSEs. However, it is already clear that he can influence his game.

Events at the Emirates confirmed that the Academy remains the bedrock of both Arsenal's current achievements and long-term plans.