Max Dowman stars as Arsenal rout Ipswich

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Arsenal defeated Ipswich Town 5-2 in the Carabao Cup third round, with 16-year-old Max Dowman scoring twice and demonstrating the squad’s impressive depth despite a largely rotated lineup. This win advances Arsenal to the fourth round and highlights the team’s strong cup prospects as they balance rotation and squad development.

Arsenal secured a commanding 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday evening at Portman Road, progressing to the fourth round with a largely rotated lineup. Manager Mikel Arteta made nine changes from the side that regularly competes in the Premier League, yet the team still demonstrated considerable depth and quality, highlighted by the emergence of 16-year-old midfielder Max Dowman.

Dowman, making his first appearance of the campaign, opened the scoring within seven minutes with a composed finish after a skillful run, quickly setting the tone for Arsenal’s dominant display. The teenager added a second goal early in the second half and played a key role in a slick attacking move that saw Mikel Merino score shortly thereafter. Alongside Dowman, Noni Madueke and Merino also found the net, with all four goals registered before the hour mark.

Arsenal, fielding a squad valued around £375 million, featured experienced internationals including Bruno Guimaraes and Merino in midfield, as well as England internationals Eberechi Eze and Madueke in attacking roles. Viktor Gyokeres led the forward line. Defensively, the Gunners were affected by injury, with Ben White, Piero Hincapie, and Jurrien Timber unavailable. This led to the unusual deployment of midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Myles Lewis-Skelly at full-back positions.

Ipswich, managed by Gary O’Neil, also rotated heavily, making ten changes from their recent league lineup. The Championship side prioritized conserving energy for their Premier League survival campaign. Despite this, Ipswich showed resilience, with forward Zian Flemming causing problems and young defender Marli Salmon gaining valuable experience in a tough defensive battle. Ipswich pulled two late consolation goals, one from Anis Mehmeti in the 62nd minute and another from former Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom during injury time, but these efforts did little to alter the outcome.

Arteta had emphasized the importance of Dowman earning his place following a breakout season last year, and the teenager’s confident performance underlined his potential. With Arsenal having reached the final of the Carabao Cup last season and narrowly losing to Manchester City, the club’s depth and rotation options bode well for a strong cup run this year.

The match highlighted Arsenal’s squad strength and underscored why Arteta feels comfortable rotating players during cup fixtures. Ipswich, meanwhile, will focus on their league objectives despite a spirited display, while Arsenal continue their pursuit of silverware this season.

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