arsenal into the last 16 of the EFL Cup as teenager Max Dowman scored twice in a 4-2 regular season win at City of Ipswich.
Mikel Arteta made nine changes from the side that won 2-0 at Sunderland last weekendbut there was never any doubt that the Gunners would continue their perfect start to the season.
Sixteen-year-old Dowman showed his remarkable promise with a fine brace, the first coming in the seventh minute via a superb solo effort.
Noni Madueke made the most of an Ipswich defensive error to make it 2-0, and a second goal from Dowman, followed by a first goal of the season for Mikel Merino, put the game beyond doubt. Anis Mehmeti pulled one back for Ipswich and Chuba Akpom made the scoreline more respectable in injury time, but those goals were little consolation as their focus turned to the Premier League.
Dowman broke the deadlock in fine style, diving to win the ball in midfield before collecting a return pass from Eberechi Eze, hooking a defender and driving into the bottom left corner.
Madueke then gave Ipswich a mountain to climb as he lashed home on the half-volley, the winger finding the same corner as Dowman superbly from Merino’s lofted pass after Bruno Guimaraes had forced a defensive error from the hosts.
Mehmeti saw a chance to halve the deficit when he volleyed over from close range, a miss that proved costly as Arsenal pulled two minutes into the second half, Dowman heading in the second after latching on to Martin Zumbimendi’s well-placed pass.
The fourth was more emphatic when Merino fired in off the post from the edge of the box, although Ipswich responded quickly when Menmeti slotted in after good work down the left from substitute Jack Clarke.
Ipswich had the final say, Akpom turning to collect the ball from Leif Davis before seeing his shot deflected home by Myles Lewis-Skelly, but the night belonged to Dowman.