The kind of moment you already know will be looked back on, maybe in the title race, almost certainly in the burgeoning career of one of the brightest talents in world football. You don’t even have to say “remember the name”. Max Dowman is everywhere, just as he was in a 22-minute appearance that also made him the youngest scorer in Premier League history.

That such a talent is the name on a stat like that feels both fitting and also the least of what this was about.

Because this really isn’t about the numbers, astounding as Dowman’s mere 16 years and 73 days are, given his ability. It was about the feeling that you could certainly sense around a rapturous – and relieved – Arsenal stadium after this late 2-0 win over Everton.

A beaming Mikel Arteta later admitted that he’d had “a gut feeling that it was a moment for him” after watching Dowman in training this week. And just before the teenager went on, the manager’s very message reflected that feeling.

“Go and do your thing and win us the game.”

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And how Arsenal needed him to do that.

The moment – and the release – was all the more special because of how testing and trying everything before it had been.

Just before Dowman offered the incisiveness that Arsenal had been lacking, there was a piece of play that had seemed to sum up everything that was wrong with them; that would have been pointed to had they only drawn 0-0.

David Raya had the ball at his feet on 88 minutes, but couldn’t seem to even see a pass. The goalkeeper had to play it sideways, which Arsenal had been doing so much of for those 88 deeply frustrating minutes. There was a strain to everything they were doing. They weren’t high enough or urgent enough. You could see the desire to get this done, but that was actually a bad thing. It was resulting in hurried long shots that were dragged wide, or even impatient pushes where players were giving away needless free kicks as they tried to do anything to just get play further up the pitch.

More than anything, Arsenal just couldn’t get beyond Everton.

Eberechi Eze was persistent, and offered two brilliant passes in behind, but something was always missing. Or, rather, there was always an Everton body right there.

Arteta admitted he was “pushing with every inch of my body to go to that goal, and somehow we score a goal”.

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David Moyes had marshalled his side too well, and they were successfully reducing everything to physical duels. This was also despite James Tarkowski surprisingly missing, with the manager twice saying “nothing to add” on that afterwards. It left some intrigue, but his players were clearly up for a battle. This was a proper fight.

You wouldn’t usually describe such a situation as the opportune moment for a child to come in, but it was exactly that.

Almost immediately, Dowman was properly winning the ball, nicking it off Everton players, but also then going past them. Crucially, he was also cutting inside. Arsenal were actually making inroads for the first time since the game’s early stages.

Arteta admitted as much afterwards.

“It’s not only the goal that he scored. I think he changed the game. Every time he got the ball, he made things happen. It looked like we were more of a threat. To do that at that age, in this context, with this pressure, it is just not normal.”

Arsenal did need something out of the ordinary. And, on 89 minutes, Dowman offered the kind of cross that the team had been missing. It was a delivery that brought indecision to the Everton defence for the first time.

Jordan Pickford, who has recently been producing his own save of the season competition, came for the cross. It was his first mistake. Piero Hincapie was left to square for Viktor Gyokeres to just tap in.

Such an easy finish after such difficulty in getting there. It almost felt surreal.

What it meant in reality could be seen and heard in the celebrations, even Arteta was leaping with joy.

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As bad as Arsenal had been, that can have a transformative effect.

“Then you turn around and you see the bench and those eyes just with that happiness, that joy that you’re almost not believing what has just happened,” Arteta said.

Not long afterwards, Dowman got to live his own dream.

With Arsenal really digging in – Piero Hincapie celebrating an abrasive late challenge that might have risked a penalty – Everton claimed a corner. Pickford this time hurried up to the other end… only to allow that opening.

With Arsenal desperately trying to get the ball away, it eventually landed with Dowman. Unlike his teammates, though, the teenager didn’t just look to get it away. Nor did he rush it and go for the shot, in the way many players would. He instead showed the composure and quality to get around Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and just keep going, dribbling from his own half to score in Everton’s box.

“Nothing seems to faze him,” Arteta said.

The anticipation was building.

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“You could sense that he was – ooh – building up, building up,” Arteta smiled. “And there’s no goalie there, it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. It was incredible. It was so loud, so energetic.

“What a moment.”

As regards what next for Dowman, there was already talk of a World Cup, and starting the game on Tuesday.

“Calma!” Arteta laughed.

That will be hard for anyone at Arsenal to do after this.

Dowman, however, looks like he’s going to keep going. This was where he really started, and it might yet prove defining for Arsenal in the title race.

Ireland: Osborne; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, O’Brien; Crowley, Gibson-Park; O’Toole, Sheehan, Furlong, McCarthy, Beirne, Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Kelleher, Milne, Bealham, Murray, Timoney, Casey, Frawley, Aki.

Scotland: Kinghorn; Graham, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), Steyn; Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Gilchrist, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Rae, Craig, Bradbury, Horne, Rowe, Jordan.

Barcelona are weighing up whether to sign Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal as the season approaches its conclusion in May

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club are assessing the best course of action regarding Marcus Rashford‘s transfer. The 28‑year‑old’s loan from Manchester United expires at the end of the season, though the La Liga side has an option to make the move permanent for £26 million.

Reports have suggested that Barca intend to trigger the clause, despite earlier claims they might try to negotiate a lower fee with United. However, there are now indications that the club may be reconsidering their stance.

Laporta has hinted they could instead look to extend the loan, while stressing that the final decision will rest with sporting director Deco. “We could extend the loan further; it depends on what Deco wants,” the 63‑year‑old told Jijantes.

“There are options: exercising part of the purchase option with United, and we’ll see about the rest. We’re studying the deal.”

Manchester United will be hoping they can offload Rashford on a permanent deal rather than another loan, with the England international cast out under former Reds’ boss Ruben Amorim.

However, Rashford’s future in Catalonia may also hinge on whether Laporta is re‑elected as president. The race for the presidency will be decided on Sunday (March 15), with Laporta going up against Victor Font.

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Font has suggested he would dismiss sporting director Deco, a move that could clearly affect Rashford’s future.

Laporta staying in charge would likely mean Deco continues as sporting director, so the club’s transfer plans would broadly remain unchanged heading into the summer window.

However, Mundo Deportivo claim the England international needs to earn his place in the squad for the final stretch of the season, and adds that he is expected to perform better during the run‑in.

The report also notes that Barcelona admire Chelsea forward Pedro Neto, who can play on either wing or operate as a false nine.

The next few weeks will be significant for the England international, who has made 38 appearances for the Spanish giants in all competitions and starting 14 times in La Liga.

In total, Rashford has contributed 10 goals and 13 assists.

Steve Tandy called Wales’ first Six Nations victory for over three years “massively emotional” as their 15-game losing streak in the competition came to an end.

Wales overcame Italy 31-17 in Cardiff for a first Six Nations win since March 11, 2023 – 1,099 days ago.

Aaron Wainwright’s first-half double, plus tries from Dewi Lake and Dan Edwards, saw Wales surge into a scarcely believable 31-0 lead after 47 minutes.

Italy fought back with three tries to produce some late anxiety for Wales fans, but it was not enough to spoil the Principality Stadium party.

“It was a massively emotional day, a win in the Six Nations has been a long time coming,” Tandy said after claiming his second success from nine matches as Wales head coach.

“I am overwhelmed with pride by what this group delivered. I’ve always said it’s never been a question of desire, physicality or work ethic in this group.

“I just think it’s getting them to understand how far they can go with the work ethic and physically they’ve got.

“I’m not going to lie, it did feel like a long last 10 minutes and that did seem to drag out a little bit.”

Wales were blown away by England and France in their opening two games.

But there were definite green shoots during narrow defeats to Scotland and Ireland, and Tandy had called on his players to finish the campaign with a flourish.

He said: “England was a massive lesson for us, we didn’t impose anything of what we wanted to do and panicked with our discipline.

“Since then I believe the boys have grown every week, have got a bit of confidence, and had a bit of cohesion as a team.

“It’s a good day to enjoy – it’s been a while – but we have to keep growing.”

Wales captain Lake said: “We hope that we have restored some faith in the jersey and into what this group can do.

“That performance sums up how we have grown in the last two to three weeks.

“The scoreline was similar to half-time against Scotland and to come out and score first, to never give up on the moment, to stay switched on and stay in every play shows how we have learnt.”

Italy were within touching distance of creating a first for themselves after upsetting Scotland and England earlier in the tournament.

They had never won three games in the same Six Nations campaign, but history was to elude them.

Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada said: “We saw a big improvement from Wales against Ireland and we knew they had the opportunity to put everything out there to get victory.

“It was a big game from Wales and they never gave up.

“The win was maybe bigger for them. Their heart and physicality was bigger than us in the first half.

“We did better in the second half, but that first half defined the game.”