Rio Ferdinand has overlooked the likes of Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes and named 16-year-old Max Dowman as the ‘key player’ in Arsenal’s Premier League title push. 

The Gunners, bidding to win the league for the first time since 2004, will look to move 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League when they face Bournemouth on Saturday. 

After Arsenal’s match against Bournemouth, second-placed Manchester City will have two games in hand, the first against Chelsea on Sunday. 

Mikel Arteta’s side remain firm favourites to win the Premier League but defeats to Man City in the Carabao Cup final and a dismal FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship side Southampton has raised concern in north London. 

Arteta will hope to lean on experienced pros in his squad like Rice and Gabriel, but Ferdinand believes it is teenage sensation Dowman who could be ‘massive’ for Arsenal in the run-in. 

Dowman, who turned 16 in December, has only made four appearances for Arsenal in 2026 but seems to make an impact whenever he is used by Arteta, scoring a superb goal in the 2-0 win over Everton last month. 

The midfielder’s...