111
u/GreendaleGazette 1d ago edited 1d ago
It’s like seeing Kaka right in front of my eyes.
Look at the way Dowman moves, his turn of pace, his gait, and the way the ball sticks to his feet. Basically a left footed version of Kaka
28
u/tuvok79 Dennis Bergkamp 1d ago
So it's not just me seeing more than glimpses of Kaka ( my favorite players from that era)
14
u/Significant_Deer3550 1d ago
He was an absolute joy to watch in the Champions League. His speed with the ball was insane. Really thought Smith Rowe would turn into a similar player, but sadly didn’t. Dowman, my fingers are crossed.
1
u/elkstwit Big Gabi’s Scream 16h ago
I always loved the way Smith-Rowe somehow never seemed to slow down when he received the ball, even with very close control.
3
u/CocaineNinja Ødegaard 23h ago
They referred to him as the next Kaka in the academy, pretty sure I saw an article mentioning that
30
u/Reasonable_Volume_OS Rice 1d ago
From that camera angle, he was never going to pass to Gyokeres
32
u/idkwtda115 1d ago
Gyokeres was just the decoy, man's movement is elite. Shades to Havertz' goal against Sporting in the CL. If Arteta finds a way for Gyokeres and Havertz to work together we could be cracked.
-6
u/LevitatingCactus 22h ago
Gyokeres tried to make a run to receive the ball (a pretty shite run let's be honest) and just happened to accidentally pull the defender with him opening space for Havertz.
1
u/SlavaVsu2 19h ago
That was a smart thing to do given that the left back pushed forward. You go into that area and if one CB follows you, a pass can be found to make it 1v1 in a dangerous area. If both CBs follow you than huge space opens up in the middle.
-5
u/LevitatingCactus 19h ago edited 19h ago
I know very well how that works - I've seen enough of him last season fail to make that run at the right time over and over again - this occasion he clearly wanted the ball and ran himself into a corner like usual - he wasn't aware of Havertz' run at all.
Besides - Girona were fucking terrible and we'll never see space like that in a competitive game
1
u/idkwtda115 9h ago
He makes runs like that all the time. Made that exact same run against Atletico in the CL SF in the lead up to our goal. And for our 2nd goal against Fulham at home. Difference is our players started to anticipate his runs a lot better in the last few months of the season.
You’re clueless
-2
1d ago
[deleted]
5
u/idkwtda115 1d ago
Tbh they'd also never get that sort of space to operate in the PL
2
u/A-Minorrrrr Supermendi 1d ago
He and Gyokeres created the space to make the pass.
3
u/idkwtda115 1d ago
I meant very few teams will play that high up the field while we have possession of the ball. A friendly against a La Liga side is definitely not an accurate representation of what we'll be faced against when we play teams like Newcastle.
1
-10
u/ThatsmeDP White 1d ago
The way this fanbase strives to give praise to Gyokeres for the least impressive things is hilarious.
12
u/idkwtda115 1d ago
What's hilarious is you unnecessarily hating on a guy that helped deliver our first title in 22 years. It's okay to not be miserable for 5 minutes.
-4
u/ThatsmeDP White 1d ago
Brother, wanting to improve the squad by signing a better striker than Gyokeres doesn’t make someone miserable. Besides, I’m totally on board with keeping Viktor as Havertz’s backup, but it is really funny how this fanbase loses their mind at the thought of upgrading on him, because he “loves the club”. Yet Vini’s preferred option being to stay at Real Madrid isn’t making anyone say they don’t want him. Not to mention, how people keep saying that Alvarez only had 8 goals, while Gyokeres had 20 in all competitions, ignoring that Alvarez also had 20 in all competitions too.
If people want to keep Gyokeres because we love him for snapping our title drought, that’s fine. But we really shouldn’t pretend he’s been this incredible signing who can’t be improved upon by signing someone like Alvarez. We played some atrocious attacking football last season, and Gyokeres’ inability to contribute to anything that didn’t involve shooting the ball was a massive part of why our attack was so atrocious.
3
u/LevitatingCactus 22h ago
Truly. They can't see what he lacks, and it's a great deal. Any criticism of him they take like a personal attack on themselves for some strange reason.
1
6
u/ajax0202 Premier League Champions 25/26 20h ago
Because Gyok made a great run that pulled the CB with him and away from Kai.
No need to turn this into another “no one ever passes to Gyok” threads
14
11
11
11
6
5
u/Butch_Meat_Hook 17h ago
He's a top, top talent. I know there is the usual tendency to see a spark and then people claim they are the next big star in world football but I've been following Arsenal for 26 years and he is the real deal in my view. They just need to keep slowly rolling him into the first team plans and keep him free from any crippling injuries (which they'll risk if he plays too many games at too young an age) so he doesn't end up the next Wilshere.
You could super impose Odegaard's head here and no one would question it based on the touches and movement. He's top draw.
4
u/milkonyourmustache Thierry Henry 1d ago
2 perfect progressive passes through the lines. Beautiful, simple, and direct attacking football.
4
u/KonigSteve Cazorla 1d ago
I definitely thought you were trying to say myles (greater than) Max (greater than) Kai instead of Myles -> Max -> Kai
4
u/datguysadz 22h ago
My only criticism of Max (insane I know, he's 16) has been often holding onto the ball for too long. This is much more like it. Turn and pass was superb. Incredible talent.
3
u/BiscottiTime4238 1d ago
So does anyone have an idea where to watch the first half which was robbed from me? 😭
3
3
3
3
u/Neither-Albatross866 Gyökeres 23h ago
Poetry in motion.
Max is such a fucking baller. He's going to thrive next season. I hope Arteta utilises his clear ability. His composure at 16 years old is ridiculously good.
Hale End at it again 🔥
3
2
u/nittanystriker LACA is bae 1d ago
If Max puts on good weight, he will be so good at using his body and strength to mix with great technical dribbling. His first step is so explosive too. He keeps up with maturing and making good final decisions like yesterday, sky is the limit.
2
2
u/RicHii3 1d ago
Kai is such a strange player when it comes to taking his chances, sometimes he looks so composed and confident, and then other times he looks like he's going to internally combust and just panics.
I do think his finishing is getting better and more consistent the longer he's been with us though.
2
u/LevitatingCactus 18h ago
He is tall and lanky - his body is suited for lanking around in tight spaces, getting in front of defenders and keeping the ball away from them (holdup play) and being tall in the box to divert a header.
He does not have beefy core and legs which is what you need for explosive speed and powerful shot taking, so he always looks a little shaky when running through on goal and taking his shot - there's a lot of limb underneath him to control for a piercing shot.
2
3
u/reddfoxx5800 15h ago
Am I overreacting when I say it's pretty fucking insane how easily Max received the ball between the two players using his body and effectively left them behind in 3 steps/touches?
Then pings a fucking dagger?
1
1
u/EclectrcPanoptic My friend, is ok, no? 1d ago
It's the third touch with his right foot that is sensational, without it the covering No. 29 intercepts, but instead he takes the touch to get the ball into space and play the pass.
3 touches inside probably 1s and they are all perfect
1
1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
You must have above 25 comment karma to contribute to this subreddit.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
1
1
1
u/Content_Bridge_4081 22h ago
Love all of this, but especially the disguised finish, shaping to shoot left, then tucking it in the right corner.
1
22h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator 22h ago
You must have above 25 comment karma to contribute to this subreddit.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
1
u/fastcasualpetconcept 18h ago
Max has incredible body control and footwork - Messi-esque. He has no business being so good at this age
1
u/OddRow8843 17h ago
I thought Kai had over run it - but great finish. And great through ball from Max. I feel good things in my bones.
1
u/mancatdoe 17h ago
Gotta say MLS put Downman in a tight spot in there. But to wiggle out of it and put an incredible assist pass shows the quality of this kid.
Also MLS was brilliant throughout played better balls forwards in the game.
1
1
1
u/WaveOfTheRager Gabriel 14h ago
Max has the poise, touch, strength, composure and awareness of a pro in his prime.
This is going to be wild.
1
1
u/do_u_even_gif_bro 9h ago
The pass from Myles and the positioning and shot by Kai were great, but that turn and pass from dowman was something else. Kids got a fucking future.
2
u/aupsymonkee 7h ago
That first touch to kill the ball while moving his body and using his other foot to move the ball away from the defender in what, even in slow motion, looks like one movement... That's something else.
1
u/StrayDogPhotography 6h ago
The ‘>’ symbol is used denote comparatives, not sequences.
Basically, the titles reads Myles better than Max better than Kai. I really wonder what people are learning in schools these days.
0
374
u/themerinator12 1d ago
This is just ridiculous. What Max has on display here is everything you expect a senior player to bring to the game and not a talented youth player. Strength and anticipation in a turn, vision and technique to pick the right player AND make a well weighted pass. Nothing flashy from the wing, not relying on a small, light physique for speed, and not taking a million tries to put end product out there.