Walcott Urges Dowman to Snub World Cup Call-Up and Focus on Arsenal Development

Theo Walcott has cautioned Arsenal's emerging talent Max Dowman against accepting an England World Cup squad place should one arrive this summer, drawing on his own experience as a precocious international.

Dowman announced himself to the Premier League this season by becoming the second-youngest player ever to appear in the competition at just 15 years and 235 days when he entered the fray against Leeds United off the bench in the 64th minute. Only Ethan Nwaneri sits ahead of him in that particular record book.

Manager Mikel Arteta has taken a measured approach to the youngster's progression, deploying him sparingly as Arsenal juggle their various commitments. His latest outing came against Everton earlier this month—his seventh appearance of the campaign—where he provided the assist for the Gunners' first goal before adding a second himself. That strike made him the youngest goalscorer in both Premier League and Arsenal history at 16 years and 73 days.

His cameo contributions have sparked speculation about a potential World Cup berth, with England boss Thomas Tuchel declining to rule out the possibility. When asked about Dowman last week, Tuchel acknowledged the teenager's obvious quality whilst stressing he remains a fringe player at his club.

"I think he is at the moment competing and obviously a fantastic talent and an outstanding talent and at his age there cannot be a doubt about it," Tuchel said. "Everyone who tells me about Max praises him and is full of compliments about him. The reality at the moment is also that he competes for minutes, he is not a regular starter for Arsenal."

He continued: "He's in a fantastic environment, the best possible environment. In a competitive and stable club. In a club where teamwork is the number one rule. He's learning from the very best, in the very best environment. With these young guys, of course we know all these players. We see them as you do as well. At the moment I think he is in a good place to fight for his minutes at Arsenal. We always have the chance to call him, maybe, up for the World Cup."

Yet Walcott, who experienced international football as a teenager himself, has a different view. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the former Gunners winger urged Dowman to decline any summons.

"I hope he doesn't go," Walcott said. "I don't mean it in a horrible way because if I could go back in time, I would change things. I would say to myself, 'no, no, don't do it', but then try telling that to a 17-year-old."

He acknowledged that Dowman's circumstances differ from his own, noting the teenager's Premier League platform and the protective environment Arteta has constructed around him. "I do still see him and me differently as he's playing in the Premier League but he needs to grow at his own pace, especially on the emotional side because he's a young adult," Walcott explained.

"I had to grow up very fast but this team is still young and not as experienced. He's being protected, which is important, whereas I had to get thrown in to talk to you lot."

Walcott believes England's wide-man options are sufficiently stacked without the teenager's involvement. "In time he will go, yes, but I don't think this is the time and I think there are better players who arguably deserve to be there ahead of him," he said.

"He will eventually get there but England have wide players doing really well, there's Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes on the other side."