SOCCER: Let Arsenal youngster Dowman enjoy the moment, says Rooney

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has praised Arsenal's Max Dowman after the 16-year-old became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history during Saturday's 2-0 win over Everton.

Dowman, aged 16 years and 73 days, set the record with a late goal at Emirates Stadium, running more than half the length of the pitch before slotting the ball home.

Rooney, who himself scored for Everton against Arsenal at 16 years and 360 days, said the youngster should be allowed to enjoy the milestone.

"Let him enjoy it and go and express himself," Rooney said on BBC's The Wayne Rooney Show. "Mikel Arteta and some of the senior players in the Arsenal squad will not let him get ahead of himself. But I think you have to enjoy it as well. When we've got a young lad like that coming through at 16, he's clearly got a lot of ability, and you just hope he can go and fulfil that potential."

Arsenal, currently top of the Premier League with 70 points from 31 matches, will face Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday in the second leg of their Champions League tie.

-Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena in New Delhi; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters