Meet Arsenal's 16-year-old sensation who just joined Rooney in the history books

At 16, Max Dowman is already making a habit of rewriting Arsenal’s record books. 

On Tuesday night, he added another line to his growing list, and this one puts him alongside one of English football’s most famous teenage prodigies.

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The Arsenal academy graduate became only the second 16-year-old to score twice in a game for a Premier League club in any competitions, joining Wayne Rooney after his brace for Everton against Wrexham in the League Cup in October 2002.

Dowman was the star of the show as Arsenal cruised to a 4-2 Carabao Cup victory over Ipswich Town, opening the scoring with a superb solo effort before adding a second shortly after half-time.

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His first goal was a glimpse of what makes the teenager so exciting. With the ball at his feet, Dowman drove forward, skipped past defenders and kept his composure before slotting the ball home with his right-foot. His second was less spectacular but perhaps just as convicning, as he showed the calmness to guide a low finish into the corner.

“Unbelievable, he's unpredictable, he can go either way, so fluid, so nice to watch,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said of the youngster.

A left-footed attacking midfielder who can also operate out wide, Dowman has the close control, balance and coordination to glide past defenders and carry the ball at pace. Against Ipswich, those qualities were on full display as he repeatedly looked comfortable taking on players far more experienced than himself.

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The brace took his senior Arsenal tally to three goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, with his first coming against Everton last season. That goal -- a remarkable run that saw him carry the ball almost halfway down the pitch before finishing into an empty net with Jordan Pickford stranded upfield -- was voted Arsenal's goal of the season.

But the Ipswich double added another feather to a breakthrough that has already been remarkable.

At 16 years and 258 days, he became the second-youngest player to score for a Premier League club in the League Cup. Only Cesc Fabregas, who scored for Arsenal against Wolves at 16 years and 212 days in 2003, was younger.

But for the keenest followers of the English game, Dowman is no stranger. Already touted as one of the most talented young players in the country, he made a historic breakthrough last season. At just 15, he broke a number of records: becoming the youngest Champions League player ever, Arsenal's youngest-ever starter, and the Premier League's youngest starter, goalscorer, and title winner.

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Much of Dowman's breakthrough came while he was still juggling football with school. He received his GCSE results from Brentwood School in the summer before leaving school to focus on his football career.

Now, with two more goals and another record to his name, the teenager is giving Arsenal supporters another reason to wonder just how high his ceiling might be.

For now, though, Dowman can simply enjoy another night in which the 16-year-old looked anything but out of place among the grown-ups.