Arteta reserves judgment on Dowman red card after 16-year-old's sending-off sinks Arsenal against Fleetwood

Mikel Arteta refused to deliver an immediate verdict on Max Dowman’s red card after the 16-year-old’s dismissal contributed to Arsenal’s Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Fleetwood Town.

With the scores level, Dowman reacted to a robust challenge from Harrison Neal by lashing out at his opponent, who stayed down on the turf. The sending-off triggered a melee between the two sides and left Arsenal to see out the closing stages a man down. Arteta was visibly incensed on the touchline and was seen exchanging heated words with Dowman as the teenager headed towards the dressing room.

Asked about the incident, Arteta was measured in his response. “It’s difficult to see on the cameras so I’d prefer to watch it back properly and then I can assess the situation,” he said. When pressed on whether Dowman would learn from the moment, the Arsenal manager kept it brief: “Yeah, we learn from everything.”

Arteta was, however, keen to defend the broader performance of his players. “The attitude I have zero [problems with] otherwise I would be here absolutely fuming,” he said. “I’m sad. I think we are all sad. We have the responsibility to carry this badge in the best possible way. It had nothing to do with effort, application or determination to go and win it, but we lacked other things to create a much bigger margin, and the ability should have been shown in the scoreline.”

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson sympathised with the teenager, suggesting the decision was harsh. “If they’d have had VAR they might have looked at it again,” Merson said. “I feel for the lad. He’s 16, hasn’t had the greatest night, is a bit frustrated and has kicked away.”

Pundit Jobi McAnuff echoed that view while acknowledging Arteta’s visible displeasure. “I’m really surprised. Listen, maybe it’s a bit of naivety — he’s a young lad,” McAnuff said. “But he gives him a proper talking to as he goes down the tunnel. Clearly not happy with that ill-discipline. But we do have to remember he’s a young boy — he’s a kid — in a really high-pressure situation.”

The defeat marks a chastening evening for Arsenal’s fringe players, with Dowman’s moment of frustration ultimately defining the tie.