Riccardo Calafiori makes Max Dowman prediction after Arsenal wonder kid made history

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Riccardo Calafiori has declared Max Dowman’s late goal against Everton the “best moment of the season" for Arsenal - and insisted there is still more to come from the record-breaking wonder kid.

It came on the back of Calafiori’s acrobatic "scorpion block" goal-line block which thwarted Everton’s Dwight McNeil to set up the dramatic win which has totally changed the mood at the Emirates.

They now go into their Champions League return leg against Bayer Leverkusen all square at 1-1, but in high spirits. They have got more belief and they are smiling again.

After all the talk of set-pieces and style of play, 16-year-old Dowman - who became the youngest scorer in Premier League history - has completely changed the focus for the run-in. Italy defender Calafiori said: “I believe that with these small things, big things normally happen, something big is going to happen. That’s what I think.

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“I was so, so happy at the end of the game - especially with the second goal. We were all happy, we ran towards him (Dowman) and the fans. It was almost a fight with the fans - in a nice way, obviously. It was amazing. Maybe the best moment of the season so far, at least in the Premier League, for sure.”

Arsenal are now nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, are in the hunt for four trophies and are still favourites to go through - even though Leverkusen held Bayern Munich 1-1 on Saturday.

It could be an unforgettable season for Arsenal and Calafiori insists the whole squad are putting their bodies on the line to make sure the Gunners end their 22-year wait for the title. They have never won the Champions League in their history.

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Calafiori smiled as he was asked about the description of his heroic goal-saving intervention being called a “scorpion block.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen that,” he said. "I just looked at the guy who was shooting and I thought I had to close as much space as possible and I just reacted. We love to defend our house, our goal and we try to do everything.

“It's the best one I’ve done and also I think it was so important for the result and for the team. I'm really happy. I think the atmosphere as well was unbelievable. As I said before, it was a crucial match and I'm so happy for the team that we won.

“Like I proved last weekend on Saturday, our biggest aim is to defend our goal and we keep fighting with all our bodies to save the team and to save the result. So I think this mentality is much more important.”

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Calafiori is an elegant defender and so classy on the ball as he gives Arsenal an extra dimension from left back, often inverting into midfield. But even he says the rest of the Arsenal squad have been blown away by Dowman’s progress from the schoolboy doing his GCSEs into a Premier League phenomenon. He is likely to be on the bench against Leverkusen, even though it is a school night.

Calafiori added: “When we're watching him, we're pretty amazed. What is it like for the players when they watch him? Yeah, obviously the first time that you see him on the pitch you're quite curious about him.

“I think he's so young but at the same time so mature on the pitch. Still, yes, he can improve many things but he's a talent. You can see it. But at the same time, I think we have to leave him quiet and try not to speak about him too much because he has everything.”

Arsenal are set to be without Jurrien Timber, who missed training, while Martin Odegaard is hoping to be back for the Carabao Cup final even if he misses the Leverkusen tie.

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