Fleetwood Town v Arsenal - Carabao Cup Fourth Round
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal’s Carabao Cup exit at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night produced plenty of talking points, but one moment has dominated the discussion since.
With five minutes left, Max Dowman was sent off for kicking out after a heavy challenge from Harrison Neal. As the 16-year-old walked down the tunnel, Mikel Arteta was seen giving him a stern word, and fans have been wondering ever since what was said.
What Mikel Arteta has said about Max Dowman
Arteta hasn’t revealed exactly what he told Dowman, but he has dropped a few hints. Asked on BBC Radio 5 Live, he said it was “something that we discussed already before the match.”
In his post-match press conference, he went a little further. “When we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to expect,” he said. “The things that emotionally we have to dominate and it was very clear.” Arteta had reportedly warned Dowman before the game that Fleetwood would try to provoke him, which helps explain why he was so frustrated.
Over on Talking Points, plenty of Arsenal fans felt Dowman deserved more sympathy than anger, given the challenge he was on the receiving end of.
Paul Merson was thinking along the same lines. Speaking on Sky Sports, he questioned Arteta’s reaction, suggesting the Arsenal boss wouldn’t have done the same to a more experienced player. “For me, I’d have put my arm round him,” he said. “It’s still 1-1, they’re still in the game.”
The challenge itself has divided opinion too. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, who believes the red card was correct, said Neal’s challenge was “reckless” and deserved a yellow card of its own. Some fans went further, feeling Fleetwood had targeted Arsenal’s youngster all night.
Others saw a humorous side to the discussion. As is often the case when a 16-year-old is involved, the jokes weren’t far behind, and Fleetwood’s famous nickname got a mention too.
Dowman is one of the most talented young players in the country, and before Tuesday’s red card, he had been one of Arsenal’s brightest players, causing problems down the right all night. But as he becomes a bigger part of the first team, opponents will naturally try to wind him up, and it isn’t the first time he’s reacted. He was also sent off for England U19s against the USA recently.
Learning to keep his cool is part of the journey, and one fan had quite a nuanced view of it, looking at the bigger picture.
Arsenal are appealing the red card and hope to have a decision before Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, although Dermot Gallagher doesn’t think it will succeed. If it fails, Dowman will miss Arsenal’s next three Premier League games, starting with the trip to Anfield on Sunday.