Kepa Arrizabalaga Praises ‘Special’ Arsenal Teenagers Max Dowman and Marli Salmon After FA Cup Win

Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has hailed teenage prospects Max Dowman and Marli Salmon as “special kids” after the young duo impressed during the club’s FA Cup fifth-round victory over Mansfield Town.

Manager Mikel Arteta rotated his squad heavily for Saturday’s lunchtime fixture at a sold-out One Call Stadium, making nine changes to the side as the Premier League leaders progressed to the quarter-finals with a 2–1 victory.

Among those handed rare opportunities were highly rated academy players Dowman and Salmon, both aged just 16, who produced composed performances despite the challenging conditions and physical test presented by Mansfield.

Dowman makes Arsenal FA Cup history

Dowman stood out on the afternoon, making history as Arsenal’s youngest-ever FA Cup player at just 16 years and 66 days old.

The appearance marked his first outing for the senior side since November, following a spell on the sidelines due to an ankle injury. Despite his age and recent absence, the midfielder showed maturity and confidence throughout the match.

Defender Marli Salmon also delivered a promising performance that belied his youth. However, the youngster was unfortunate to play a part in Mansfield’s equaliser when his intervention inadvertently helped set up Will Evans to cancel out Noni Madueke’s opening goal.

Arsenal eventually secured victory thanks to a decisive contribution from substitute Eberechi Eze, whose impact from the bench sealed the win and ensured the Gunners’ place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Kepa full of praise for Arsenal youngsters

Speaking after the match, Kepa was full of admiration for the two teenagers and their ability to perform at such a high level.

“Wow — at 16 years old, they are already playing at the highest level,” the Spain international said.

“And the way they play is impressive. They played very well.

“They are special kids. They train with us regularly and are used to being around the first-team environment.

“They were given their opportunity, and I believe they took it. I am very happy for them.”

Debut for Jaden Dixon

Another young player to feature was 18-year-old Jaden Dixon, who made his Arsenal debut after coming off the bench.

Dixon, who joined the club from Stoke City during the winter transfer window, showed flashes of promise during his cameo appearance.

Busy schedule ahead for Arsenal

While Arsenal successfully navigated a tricky FA Cup tie, more demanding challenges await in the coming weeks.

Arteta’s side will face Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, with the two-legged tie scheduled either side of next Saturday’s Premier League fixture at home to Everton.

The month of March will conclude with a major domestic showdown as Arsenal take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.

Arteta will be aiming to secure his first trophy since guiding the club to FA Cup success in 2020, and Kepa believes the team’s mentality will be crucial in the decisive weeks ahead.

Focus on maintaining momentum

“The objective today was to reach the next round, and we achieved that,” Kepa said.

“Now we have a couple of big matches in the Champions League, and we will remain fully focused.

“We knew beforehand that these types of games and competitions are always difficult.

“It was a tricky match today, but we stayed concentrated and understood what was required. The most important thing is that we progressed.

“We expected a tough game. Matches like this are never easy. You have to adapt to the pitch and the conditions — there are no excuses. Our job was to adapt and win the game.”