Arsenal could lose their 16-year-old prodigy during a crucial period due to high school exams.

Arsenal's 16-year-old prodigy, Max Dowman, may miss a significant part of the Premier League title race as he focuses on upcoming high school exams. This observation was made by former star Wayne Rooney following the young player's impressive performance.

Rooney praised Dowman extensively after the 16-year-old midfielder became the youngest goal scorer in Premier League history on Saturday evening. According to Rooney, Dowman possesses a very special "aura and confidence" on the pitch.

Previously, Rooney himself scored against Arsenal for Everton at just 16 years old, thereby holding the record for the youngest goal scorer in the league. Therefore, the former striker for Everton and Manchester United understands the pressure a teenage talent faces.

While highly valuing Dowman's ability, Rooney believes the young player may need to prioritize his studies in the coming weeks. "He has his GCSE exams, and education is undoubtedly very important for him and his family," Rooney shared on The Wayne Rooney Show. "This is a fantastic opportunity for him to train with the first team. He could even become a Premier League champion while still completing his school studies."

Rooney noted that Dowman consistently displays exceptional confidence on the field: "He has a clear aura and belief, and that was evident in the match against Everton. If education is prioritized, I think we won't see him play much in the next few weeks. He won't feature as often as desired, but there are many years ahead in his career."

Reflecting on his famous volley goal against Arsenal in 2002, Rooney believes Dowman is maturing in a completely different environment, where social media generates more attention. "Now is the era of social media," Rooney said. "People will message him, on Instagram or Twitter, whatever platform he uses. You'll see it everywhere. My time was different. When I started my career, there was no social media. Everything revolved around newspapers, whether you liked it or not, from front page to back. I think the level of scrutiny might not be as intense as before."

Nevertheless, Rooney assessed that Dowman seems unaffected by pressure. "From the matches I've watched, he doesn't let pressure affect him. He receives the ball, keeps possession, stretches defenses, and is ready to challenge defenders. Clearly, he has great confidence."

Rooney also believes that manager Mikel Arteta and Arsenal's experienced players will help Dowman maintain focus. "Arteta and the senior players in the team won't let him get swept up by fame. But at the same time, he should also enjoy this moment."

Dowman has been part of Arsenal's first team since his debut in August and now has eight appearances across all competitions for the North London club. The young player has trained with the first team since age 14. Previously, he had to take a break from playing due to an ankle injury early in the season.

However, last weekend's performance cemented Dowman's name in English football history. The attacking midfielder came off the bench in the match against Everton and played a key role in Arsenal's 2-0 victory. He assisted Viktor Gyokeres's goal in the 89th minute before scoring himself in the final moments of added time. That goal made Dowman the youngest goal scorer in Premier League history, surpassing the previous record held by Rooney, who scored at 16 years and 360 days old.

This win allowed manager Arteta's team to extend their lead to nine points over Manchester City in the standings. Even former Chelsea captain John Terry compared Arsenal's young talent to superstar Lionel Messi.

However, this Year 11 student will have to take GCSE exams spanning May and June, coinciding with Arsenal's final seven decisive matches in the Premier League.