In October 2002, just days shy of his 17th birthday, Wayne Rooney made a stunning entrance into professional football with a last-minute goal for Everton against Arsenal at Goodison Park, setting the stage for his remarkable career.

Fast forward to a recent meeting between the same clubs at the Emirates Stadium, where 16-year-old Max Dowman made a memorable impact by coming off the bench to energize Arsenal and net his inaugural Premier League goal.

With the game locked at 0-0 and only 16 minutes remaining, Mikel Arteta called upon Dowman for his first league appearance since August, marking his debut as a 16-year-old following his December birthday.

Dowman’s silky movement and ability to glide past defenders began to expose weaknesses in what had been a solid defensive display from the opposition.

In the 89th minute, Dowman received a quick throw-in, deftly shifted the ball to his left foot, and unleashed a wickedly bending cross that outfoxed England’s goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford.

Max Dowman lit up the Emirates as he came off the bench to help Arsenal to victory over Everton on Saturday

Mikel Arteta’s inspired substitutions delivered victory late on with his side’s anxiety levels off the scale

Pickford’s desperate attempt to intercept the cross resulted in a fingertip touch that deflected the ball into Piero Hincapie’s path, allowing Viktor Gyokeres to tap it into the net for an effortless finish.

Cue bedlam inside the Emirates. Pressure released and three points closer to their dream. Then, as Everton threw Pickford forward for a set piece, Arsenal broke for their second.

With the goal unguarded, it was Dowman who picked up possession and danced clear to accompany the ball into an open goal.

Like the iconic Rooney goal, this one will be replayed over and over again. Like Rooney, he becomes the youngest goalscorer in the Premier League era. Do not be surprised if like Rooney he goes onto great things.

For Arteta, this teenage talent might provide the element of mystery to propel his team over the line.

How ironic it would be after the millions spent in pursuit of past glories if it is a schoolboy from Essex who proves the decisive factor in Arsenal’s first title since 2004.

They are sitting pretty, having lost only three of 48 games in all competitions this season.

Bayer Leverkusen are next with a place in the Champions League quarter-final at stake before they bring up the half century at Wembley against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.

Viktor Gyokeres (right) came on at the same time as Dowman and scored the first goal

It left Everton, who had missed a plethora of chances in the game, frustrated at full-time

Arsenal will not be back in Premier League action for almost another month when they take on Bournemouth, before the long-anticipated showdown with City in Manchester.

They will look forward with more confidence after winning this one.

For so long Everton looked rock solid, their back four becoming six with both wingers tracking back and the full backs squeezing tight to their centre halves, closing channels, shielded by two in midfield and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as a No10 but working tirelessly to help the cause.

They soaked up early Arsenal pressure and survived a cluster of corners. Pickford foiled Noni Madueke, Riccardo Calafiori volleyed over and Bukayo Saka fired wide.

Seventeen minutes had passed before Everton touched the ball inside Arsenal’s penalty box but when it arrived it the clearest chance of the game and it fell to Dwight McNeil.

Calafiori made a block before McNeil rattled a post. The rebound struck Iliman Ndiaye and bounced inches wide. Raya saved from Dewsbury-Hall.

Arsenal, who lost Jurrien Timber to injury, grew anxious and claimed a penalty when Kai Havertz tumbled in the penalty box as he turned away from Michael Keane onto a pass from Eberechi Eze.

The players had hands on each other, but replays showed Keane had caught Havertz on an ankle.

On Sky Sports, the pundits sided with the Arsenal striker, but referee Andy Madley waved the appeals away, just as he did at the other end when William Saliba grabbed Beto around the waist as he tried to spin into the penalty area.

The game became disjointed and littered with contention. Moyes was upset when referee Madley stopped the game with Everton on the ball to allow William Saliba treatment for a head injury. But, as Moyes pointed out, Saliba was off the pitch and could have had treatment without stopping the game.

Raya made another important save from Beto from Everton’s first corner of the game.

But Arsenal responded. Pickford made saves from Saka and Eze, who also went close with a curling left footer. Arteta shuffled through his substitutes.

On came Dowman. His first chance fired over, then the cross for Gyokeres to score the first. Then the goal. Sweet 16 all the way for Arsenal.