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Arsenal's Dowman Red Carded, Arteta Faces Criticism
Confirmed
In Short: Arsenal's 16-year-old winger Max Dowman was sent off for the second time this month, leading to criticism of manager Mikel Arteta's lineup choices.
Arsenal's 16-year-old winger Max Dowman was sent off for the first time in his senior club career, leading to a shock loss to Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup.
Arteta named an experimental lineup, starting several young players including Dowman, 17-year-old Marli Salmon, and 18-year-old Ceadach O'Neill.
Dowman's red card came after a poor reaction to some rough play, leading to a three-match ban.
The loss to Fleetwood, a team 84 places below Arsenal in the English football pyramid, was described by Arteta as 'a very sad day.'
Arteta's decision to field a young and inexperienced lineup backfired, with Arsenal suffering a 1-0 defeat that went to penalties.
Dowman's absence, along with injuries to Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, and Christos Tzolis, leaves Arsenal short-handed for their upcoming Premier League match against Liverpool.
Arteta gave Dowman a scathing look and harsh words as he left the pitch, reminding the young player of something they had discussed before the match.
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson defended Dowman, saying, 'You have to remember he is 16 years of age - he's a kid.'
Arteta acknowledged the emotional impact of the loss, stating, 'We have a massive responsibility to carry this badge in the best possible way.'
Fleetwood's victory was celebrated as the biggest night in the club's history, with goalkeeper Jak Alnwick saying, 'I just can't believe it.'
What this adds
The extent of the impact of Arteta's lineup choices on Arsenal's future matches remains to be seen.
What's confirmed
- "First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood for going through the next round. The manner that they have done it, and for us a very sad day," Arteta said of the result.
- Asked what he had said, Arteta told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘Something that we discussed already before the match.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Dowman was sent off playing for England ’s Under-19s earlier this month in somewhat similar circumstances, putting in a strong tackle having been on the receiving end of some rough treatment earlier in the game.
What's still developing
- "Even with 10 men, we conceded a really poor goal to start with that gave them some momentum."
- "When we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to respect, the things that emotionally we have to dominate. It was very clear," Arteta said following the game.
- And this one was perhaps more of an opportunity than it looked.
- It goes down as Dowman's second red card this month after he was also sent off while representing England Under-19s in the last international break.
- With Dowman now suspended, Saka out for around six weeks, Tzolis working to return and Arteta revealing after the match that Madueke was unavailable with an injury, their options in wide areas for the match with Liverpool on Sunday are looking highly limited. 'Biggest night in the club's history' for fearless Fleetwood Fleetwood-Arsenal halted for eight minutes because of drone Ask about Arsenal - what do you want to know?
- "It was a poor reaction from him and you hope he learns and he learns quickly."
- "We all say things in life when you think 'I shouldn't have said that'. For me that's a classic moment where if he [Arteta] could have that back, he'd do it different."
- Dowman scored twice in the previous round of the competition against Ipswich Town and was rewarded with another start on Tuesday night.
- On Tuesday’s incident, Arteta added: ‘It’s difficult to see on the cameras like that.
- Dowman is set to serve a three-match ban following his dismissal, ruling him out of Premier League fixtures against Liverpool, Hull City and Newcastle United.
- While he did not disclose exactly what was said, Arteta later explained he was reminding Dowman of something the two discussed heading into the game.
- But instead of extending their run of 11 wins from their 13 previous games, Arteta's team returned to north London red-faced after a loss that ranks among the darkest days in the club's glittering history.