Max Dowman is sent off during Arsenal's loss to Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town planned to wind up the Arsenal players before Max Dowman was sent off during their Carabao Cup fourth round win.
The teenage forward was shown a straight red card as the Gunners were beaten on penalties by their League Two opponents.
Max Dowman walks off the pitch after his red card against Fleetwood Town4
Dowman's red card was part of Fleetwood's plan against Arsenal, says their goalkeeper
Dowman was dismissed for violent conduct after kicking out at Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal.
It followed a strong tackle from Neal on the Arsenal teenager.
The Gunners have since appealed against the decision, which will see Dowman miss their next three Premier League matches.
Fleetwood's plan for Dowman
Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch has now revealed Matt Lawlor's side planned such tackles on the Arsenal players.
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Their intention during the match was to get stuck in and wind up their rivals, the shot-stopper told the Sports Breakfast on Wednesday morning.
Lynch added that the Fleetwood players wanted the weather to be as bad as possible at Highbury Stadium during the match.
Speaking to Alan Brazil and Dean Saunders, he was asked if there was a plan to get a foot in and disrupt Arsenal.
The 33-year-old explained: "Yes, obviously you’ve seen it with the Max Dowman tackle, their sending off.
"That’s what we’re about, that’s what League Two is about. It’s about winning your duels fairly, I think it was a fair tackle.
"Obviously we’ve had a storm at the minute with the weather, we actually wanted it as bad as possible.
Jay Lynch celebrates saving a penalty against Arsenal4
Lynch revealed Fleetwood intended to wind up their Arsenal rivals
"As we drove into the stadium, the sun is shining, we’re thinking ‘oh no, this suits them,’ then the wind comes, we’re like, ‘alright, game on.’"
Lynch, who joined the club in 2022, went on to save Bruno Guimaraes' spot-kick as Fleetwood won 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
The Fishermen are now into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup for the first time in their history.
They are also the first League Two club to reach the last eight since Colchester United in 2019.
Should Dowman have been sent off?
Arsenal's appeal against Dowman's red card comes after referee Michael Salisbury's controversial decision to send off the 16-year-old.
It comes less than a month after he was dismissed whilst playing for England's Under-19s against the USA for violent conduct.
Harrison Neal tackles Max Dowman4
Arsenal are set to appeal against Dowman's red card
Sam Matterface, Danny Murphy and Brad Friedel discussed the incident live on talkSPORT on Wednesday morning.
Reacting to the referee's call, Murphy explained: "It’s a ridiculous decision. The referee losing it a little bit really, a competent referee would have just nipped it in the bud.
"He didn’t lash out, it wasn’t violent, he just nudged into him because he took a hefty whack.
"The tackle was fine. It’s not a sending off either. He got the ball and then left a little bit on him."
Meanwhile, Friedel believes a different referee may have handled the situation better.
He added: "A referee in control possibly could have booked the first tackle, but what he would have done is he would have had a word with that player, pulled Dowman to one side, had a word with him.
Fleetwood Town and Arsenal players clash during their Carabao Cup tie4
Referee Salisbury has been criticised for his handling of the red card incident
"Maybe give the booking out to the first tackle, tell everyone else, ‘get out of my face’, and if someone got in his face, maybe book them for dissent or something like that and then it’s done.
"It’s not a problem for the manager to basically tell Dowman, you need to control your emotions, because this could happen, it could be a Champions League final coming up."
As for how the incident could affect Dowman, Murphy added that it could prove to be a learning experience for the youngster.
The former England midfielder admitted: "I think it’s great because Arsenal are looking at bigger fish than League Cups this year. They want the Champions League, they want the league again.
"So if he’d have done that in a Champions League knockout game, a head-to-head game where he’s come on against Manchester City or Liverpool on Sunday at Anfield.
"Because if he comes off the bench or starts at Anfield and it’s lively, he’s not going to do that again now, is he? I think he’ll learn a hell of a lot."
If Arsenal's appeal against Dowman's red card is successful, he will be cleared to face Liverpool on Sunday.
At present, the winger will miss the match along with upcoming fixtures against Hull City and Newcastle United through suspension.