Max Dowman closed his eyes and looked up to the sky. Then he leant over, swiped the grass with his hands and trotted onto the field. At the tender age of 15 years and 235 days, Dowman was officially a Premier League player — coming on to represent Arsenal as a second-half substitute in the 5-0 win over Leeds on Saturday.

Arsenal have handed 15-year-old academy star Max Dowman his Premier League debut. Dowman was included among the substitutes ahead of Arsenal’s home match against Leeds United after rising through the club’s academy and came on for Noni Madueke in the 64th minute at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal plays its first home fixture of the new season on Saturday as Leeds heads south to the Emirates, buoyed by a positive start to life back in the English Premier League.