Mikel Arteta feels that our 2-0 win against Everton will be a game that our supporters will remember forever – especially Max Dowman who netted his first Gunners goals to rewrite the record books.
Just as it looked as though two precious points could slip through our grasp, Max’s introduction from the bench pushed us into another gear and he provided the cross that led to Viktor Gyokeres scoring our 89th-minute opener, before picking the ball up 75 yards from goal and running it into the net to seal the victory.
Agd 16 years and 73 days, Max has become our youngest scorer in history, and also the entire 33 seasons of the Premier League. That, combined with the victory and the context, means that Mikel feels this magical Emirates night will be immortalised.
On all the late drama, Mikel smiled: “It was amazing, it was one of those moments that I think we’re going to remember for a long, long time.
“I really enjoyed the relentless desire of the team, action by action, to put everything that we had in to earn the right to win the game. And obviously, the manner in which it happened in the last few minutes, all the celebration, the atmosphere, the energy, the goal from Max, it made it such a special night.
“For many years, we will remember that we were at the Emirates that night when that 16-year-old kid scored in such an important game when we were trying to win the title.”
Max’s incredible late goal was the icing on the cake of a brilliant night, and having witnessed his evolution over the past couple of seasons, Mikel feels he is a worthy recipient of the Premier League record – which had previously been set by the Toffees’ James Vaughan in a game Mikel played in back in 2005.
“That’s unique. To achieve what he’s done in the context of the game which he’s done it in as well, I think it makes it even more special.
“I’m really happy for him. I think he deserves it. His family, and all the people at Hale End have raised him in such an incredible way. One thing is to raise a talent, another thing is to raise a person with such a personality and charisma to play a game with that stature in the manner that he’s done it.”
Read more Max Dowman: Arsenal’s and PL’s youngest scorer
The late goals ensured that everyone connected with the club was rewarded for their efforts, support and faith throughout the game, as the players kept going even after seeing 22 shots repelled before Gyokeres finally made the breakthrough.
Mikel was keen to also praise our supporters inside Emirates Stadium for driving the team forward even when things ween’t quite going our way, and was delighted his team managed to send them home with a reward, and lifelong memories, for their backing.
“When we talk about belief and conviction and trying and going and going and being mature and being composed in the moment, it’s a really difficult thing to do,” he added.
“I’m really proud of them, the ones that started, the finishers that again made such an impact to help us to win the game, and all the staff and players that were on the bench, living the game with us in that incredible way. It was beautiful. This gives you a lot of energy and belief. Let’s enjoy this.
“The [supporters] really pushed the team. They were very patient when they had to be patient as well and left the players to make their decisions on the pitch. They were really supportive.”
Read more Gyokeres’ joy for “amazing” record-breaker Dowman
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