Arteta backs Dowman to grow from red card as four Arsenal players return for Liverpool clash

Mikel Arteta has urged Max Dowman to treat his three-match suspension as a learning experience, revealing he held direct talks with the 16-year-old at Arsenal’s training ground on Thursday after the FA declined to overturn the ban for violent conduct picked up against Fleetwood.

The Arsenal head coach was unequivocal in his belief that the teenager’s talent is too significant to be derailed by the incident. “When you play for Arsenal, you’re going to have highs and lows. You have to be prepared for that. It doesn’t matter the age,” Arteta said. “Don’t feel sorry for yourself. That happened. Those things happen. Make sure that you are humble enough to recognise that and to learn from it and work on it.”

Arteta also called on those around Dowman — including the media — to help shield English football’s most talked-about young prospect. “I think we discussed a week ago how many players in the history of the Premier League have done what Max is doing and there isn’t one,” he said. “So it’s something new and as new, we’ll do things well, I will do things well, I will do things not so well, I will try to learn as quick as possible, protect him as much as possible.”

Dowman will sit out Sunday’s Premier League fixture at Anfield, as will Bukayo Saka. However, Arteta confirmed that Declan Rice, Christos Tzolis and Riccardo Calafiori all trained on Friday and are expected to be available barring any late setbacks. Noni Madueke is also in contention after recovering from a recent ankle problem.

Arteta singled out Madueke — who is pushing for an England recall — as a player who must step up in Saka’s absence. “He’s getting closer but he needs to do it and he needs to make that click and that’s what the top elite players do,” Arteta said. “He has all the potential to do it, he has all the attributes to do it, he certainly has the will to do it.”