WHY JOHN TERRY COMPARES ARSENAL’S MAX DOWMAN TO LIONEL MESSI
John Terry labels Max Dowman "incredible" after the 16-year-old becomes the youngest Premier League scorer in Arsenal's win.
John Terry has showered praise on Max Dowman after the Arsenal youngster set a new record as the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history. At just 16 years old, Dowman grabbed attention with a standout performance that helped Arsenal secure a vital 2-0 victory against Everton.
Dowman, an attacking midfielder who’s been training with Arsenal’s first team since he was 14, came off the bench to assist Viktor Gyokeres' late goal in the 89th minute and then wrapped things up with a goal of his own during added time. Terry, who has encountered Dowman through his coaching role at Chelsea’s academy, was clearly impressed by the teenager’s talent.
On his TikTok page, Terry described Dowman as “an incredible player” and compared his ability to glide past opponents to none other than Lionel Messi, a comparison he acknowledged as huge but felt well-deserved. Terry sees Dowman as a key figure for Arsenal’s future and potentially for the England national team too.
Switching gears, Terry also commented on a strange incident involving Chelsea’s referee, Paul Tierney, who found himself surrounded by Chelsea players during their pre-match huddle before a game against Newcastle. Terry didn’t hold back, calling the referee’s presence there “unacceptable” and suggesting the players should have made it clear he didn’t belong in that moment.
Chelsea’s unusual pre-match ritual of gathering near the centre circle isn't new, but surrounding the referee like that is unprecedented. Tierney appeared confused as players leaned in close, with Cole Palmer even speaking directly to him after the huddle. There was a light moment too, with Enzo Fernandez laughing awkwardly at the scene.
The whole episode lasted about 30 seconds and left viewers puzzled. Tierney didn’t try to break free from the cluster of players. It seemed like a genuine team talk, but Palmer’s unusual attention to Tierney – he even hugged the referee from behind – stood out.
After the match, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior addressed the situation, defending his players' decision to show unity around the ball. He stressed it wasn’t his call but that of the team leadership. Rosenior insisted the huddle wasn’t disrespectful to the opposition and criticised Tierney, calling for the PGMOL to ensure referees focus on their job and make the right decisions, like awarding a penalty he believed his side deserved.
Ultimately, Rosenior’s point was clear: the emphasis should be on fair calls on the pitch rather than eccentric pre-match interactions. Meanwhile, Max Dowman’s exceptional debut remains the highlight of the weekend, promising an exciting future ahead.
WHY GYOKERES BELIEVES SALIBA AND GABRIEL ARE FOOTBALL'S BEST CENTER-BACK DUO
Viktor Gyokeres praises Arsenal's Saliba and Gabriel as the best defensive duo before the Champions League semi-final vs Atletico.
Viktor Gyokeres doesn’t hide how lucky he feels training with Gabriel and William Saliba. For him, this is as good as it gets for a centre-back pairing. “Honestly, I don’t think you can find better centre-backs than what we have,” he said. “Training against them, playing with them, I'm blessed, really.”
David Raya’s about to snatch another Golden Glove, thanks in no small part to the guys right in front of him. Seventeen clean sheets in the Premier League don’t come easy, and it’s Gabriel and Saliba who keep things solid at the back. They’ve become one of the best partnerships you’ll see anywhere, and Arsenal’s banking on them to help push for just their second Champions League final ever.
Next up, Arsenal face Atletico Madrid at home on Tuesday night, the second leg of the semi-final, after drawing 1-1 in Spain last week.
Gyokeres is hitting his stride, too. After his two goals against Fulham on Saturday, he’s up to 21 for the season. The Swede’s different since the new year rolled in. 14 of those goals came in 2026, and you can tell he’s getting more comfortable in an Arsenal shirt with every match. “You get to know everyone, you settle into life, and the routines – just everything – about changing clubs,” he said. “The more you play together, game after game, the easier it gets.”
There’s something else: Gyokeres has scored his last 27 penalties, including the one that buried Fulham. That coolness from the spot might come in handy if things are still locked after 120 minutes on Tuesday. So, what goes through his head when lining up for a penalty? “Don’t try to think too much. Just put it in the back of the net,” Gyokeres said. That’s pretty much it.
When someone asked if Arsenal had spent extra time practising penalties ahead of the big game, Gyokeres just smiled and said, “No comment.”
TITLE RACE MATH: WHY ARSENAL’S SIX-POINT LEAD CHANGES THE PRESSURE ON MAN CITY
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal rediscovered their flowing football in a dominant win over Fulham, putting immense pressure on Manchester City.
Arsenal finally looked like themselves again, brushing past Fulham with the kind of confident, flowing football they showed earlier in the season, not the sluggish stuff fans have sat through lately.
Right from kickoff, they flew at Fulham and pretty much had the game wrapped up in the first half. That win nudges them six points ahead of Man City, though City has two games in hand. With just three matches left, every point feels golden. City heads to Everton on Monday for the first of those crucial fixtures.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a real confidence boost. Perfect timing, too, with the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid just around the corner. You could see Arsenal were sharp right from the start. No signs of tired legs after that trip to Madrid. Myles Lewis-Skelly looked thrilled to finally get a start, and Trossard wasted no time getting involved, nearly scoring early on.
It didn’t take long for Arsenal to get the opener. Less than 10 minutes in, Saka, who wore the armband, danced past Jimenez (who slipped) and squared the ball for Gyokeres. An easy tap-in, his twentieth goal of the season. Not a bad haul for his debut year, especially considering how much criticism he’s taken.
Funny enough, the goal came at almost the same time as last week’s against Newcastle. But this time, Arsenal wanted to avoid the nerve-shredding finish they had then. They looked determined to put Fulham away early.
Fulham hardly touched the ball in that first half. Lukic picked up a yellow for hacking down Eze; it summed up Fulham’s frustration. They’ve never found much luck at Arsenal, and today continued that streak. Their fans barely had moments to cheer.
Leno spilt a cross at one point but managed to block Gyokeres’ follow-up. Saka blasted the rebound wide with the goal gaping, then Trossard floated a beauty to Calafiori at the back post, but the header was ruled out for offside.
Arsenal’s attacking play finally paid off again. Eze slipped a perfect ball through to Gyokeres, who held it up and teed up Saka, bursting into the box and finishing low into the corner.
Their confidence kept growing. Calafiori, charging forward again, set up Eze for a shot that bent just wide. Arsenal didn’t want the half to end, and with good reason. Just before the whistle, Trossard whipped in a great cross, and Gyokeres headed home for his second. Arsenal went into halftime cruising.
Arteta could actually afford to give Saka a rest, taking him off at the break to save his legs for Tuesday. Rice also got a breather soon after.
Fulham did show a little more bite after halftime. Jimenez hit one just over, and Castagne twice came close from a corner and then with a quick shot after the ball dropped to him at the edge of the box.
Arsenal could’ve pushed for more goals to boost their goal difference, but they opted to see the game out sensibly. Still, they nearly made it four when Calafiori’s header bounced off Leno’s head and onto the bar.
And then there was Max Dowman, who went on a mazy run from halfway; weaving through defenders, if that shot had found the net, people would be talking about it for years.
In the end, it was just the performance Arsenal needed: sharp, confident, and a reminder of what they’re capable of.
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