Declan Rice teases Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman as hilarious moment spotted by cameras

Declan Rice poked fun at Max Dowman during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night

Declan Rice was spotted teasing Max Dowman during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League. Shortly after the break at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening, the pair bumped into each other on the touchline as they prepared to come off the bench.

Rice, who had been rested following his heroics in the Gunners’ dramatic victory against Newcastle United at the weekend, jogged towards the corner flag. After adjusting his shorts, the former West Ham skipper put his hand out for a high-five.

But as Dowman reached out, Rice quickly pulled his hand away and left him hanging. Desperate to avoid embarrassment in front of the TNT Sport cameras, the Arsenal wonderkid quickly grabbed the England international’s arm.

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Footage of the amusing exchange spread across social media like wild fire, with fans commenting on their sibling-like bond. One Reddit user quipped that Mikel Arteta would have been gutted to see Dowman lose the ‘duel’.

The 15-year-old midfielder made history when he became the second-youngest player in Arsenal and Premier League history during the Premier League clash against against Leeds United in August. Sadly for Dowman, he didn’t get any playing time on the European stage against Olympiacos.

Chatting to TNT Sports before Wednesday evening’s match, Rice described the youngster as ‘insane’. He said: “Ethan [Nwaneri] and Myles – the difference from last year to this year, how they’ve grown as people, is incredible.

“They’ll speak to anyone now, they’re loud, they’re themselves and that’s what you want. You want people to feel comfortable. Obviously, Max is only 15, just going to be turning 16 in December.

“I’ve never seen a 15-year-old so comfortable around the first team, it’s insane,” added Rice. “They actually are just kids.

“I said to Max on the way back from pre-season tour, I couldn’t get my head around it that he was going back to school. He FaceTimed the other day and he had his school uniform on.

“I was like, ‘mate, you’ve just played in the Premier League a week ago, and now you’re walking back through the school gates’. Even me as a 15-year-old, going into West Ham’s first team dressing room, I would no way have been as confident as he was.

“I would’ve been quiet in the corner. Unless someone spoke to me, I wouldn’t have spoken to them, whereas I feel like now, Max especially, he’s just so confident in himself and his ability.

“The support network here is incredible and I’ve seen the academy – the way they work, it’s insane.”

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Arteta recalled when he first became aware of Dowman’s quality. The Spaniard said: “The first conversation was probably with Per [Mertesacker].

“We were talking about the talent and what he could see and feel that could reach the level that we needed. Straight away, his name came up, and then we started to look at him, and the way he’s developed himself, and the steps that he’s taken, and the speed he’s taken them, it’s probably unheard of.

“He’s fully with us, he’s part of us, he trains with us, and he’s got the same chances as anybody else…”

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