Arsenal moved 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League after a dramatic late victory over Everton, with 16-year-old Max Dowman becoming the youngest goalscorer in league history.
The match looked destined to end in a frustrating draw for Arsenal before substitute Viktor Gyokeres broke the deadlock in the 89th minute.
The Swedish striker tapped in from close range after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford misjudged a cross and failed to gather the ball.
Everton pushed forward in search of a last-gasp equaliser and even sent Pickford up for a stoppage-time corner.
But the move backfired when Arsenal regained possession, allowing Dowman to break away from midfield, beat two defenders and calmly roll the ball into the empty net to seal the win at Emirates Stadium.
At just 16 years and 73 days old, Dowman set a new Premier League record for the youngest scorer, surpassing the mark previously held by James Vaughan, who scored for Everton in 2005 at 16 years and 270 days.
Everton produced a strong performance for much of the match and nearly took the lead during the first half.
Dwight McNeil came close twice, first being denied by an acrobatic block from Riccardo Calafiori before striking the post with a curling effort from the edge of the area.
Arsenal also had reason to feel aggrieved when Michael Keane and Kai Havertz tangled inside the penalty area, but the referee waved away the home side’s appeals for a spot-kick.
Despite the pressure and frustration, Arsenal eventually found a breakthrough in the closing stages to claim all three points.
The victory keeps the Gunners firmly in control at the top of the table, sitting 10 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, who still have two games in hand.
Although Gyokeres appeared to have scored the winning goal, it was Dowman who stole the headlines with a remarkable cameo.
The teenage winger has been highly rated within the club for years and has trained with Arsenal’s first team since the age of 14.
He impressed during the club’s pre-season tour and has already made history by becoming the youngest player to start a match for Arsenal, doing so against Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup.
He also became the club’s youngest FA Cup participant after an impressive performance against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has previously suggested the youngster’s talent draws comparisons with Lionel Messi, underlining how highly he is regarded at the club.
Dowman also played a key role in Arsenal’s opening goal, delivering the cross that Pickford failed to claim before the ball deflected kindly for Gyokeres to finish.
His stoppage-time strike, however, was the moment that sealed both the victory and a place in Premier League history.
After coming on in the 74th minute, Dowman’s electric impact suggests he could play an increasingly important role for Arsenal in the weeks ahead.
