Max Dowman is guaranteed a Premier League winners’ medal if Arsenal win the title this season. That’s thanks to a rule change over the number of appearances needed to meet the required threshold.
The 16-year-old sensation has forced his way into the first-team picture this campaign, with Mikel Arteta unable to ignore his talent despite his young age. The Gunners manager has handed Dowman valuable playing time already, most notably in the League Cup and with three substitute appearances in the Champions League.
Perhaps most crucially for the youngster, he has also accumulated five Premier League appearances, making him eligible for a medal should Arsenal lift the trophy at the end of this month. His fifth league appearance came in the 3-0 victory over Fulham last week, having been introduced from the bench with 12 minutes remaining.
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Arsenal supporters will recognise that he is thoroughly deserving of the accolade, having registered an assist on his debut against Leeds United at the start of the season. Dowman then set up a goal and scored one himself against Everton in March, helping the Gunners secure a crucial three points.
Since the 2012/13 season, the title-winning club has received 40 medals in total. Any player who has featured in a minimum of five matches must be awarded a medal, meaning Dowman is assured his own piece of silverware.
The club can then allocate the remaining medals as they see fit, sharing them among the manager, coaching staff or even other players who haven’t made five appearances.
There was a period before the rule change, however, when Dowman would have needed a minimum of ten outings. Manchester United in 2013 became the first club to reap the rewards of this new, reduced threshold after securing the title in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final campaign at the helm.
View 2 ImagesDowman played a key role against Everton this season(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Of course, there remains the small matter of getting over the finishing line for Arteta’s side, who are likely driven more by the fact they have fallen heartbreakingly short three seasons in a row than they are by a commemorative medal.
The Gunners have three league matches remaining and winning all three would secure them the title. Their hunt for the trophy, which has eluded them since 2004, continues against West Ham this Sunday afternoon.
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