Arsenal will appeal the red card shown to Max Dowman in the Carabao Cup loss at Fleetwood. The 16-year-old would miss the Liverpool trip on Sunday and two more games unless the ban is overturned.
What happened to Max Dowman at Fleetwood
As reported by BBC, the 16-year-old was sent off in the 85th minute after a heavy challenge from Harrison Neal. Dowman reacted to the tackle and his foot made contact with Neal, although it was not a full kick. Referee Michael Salisbury judged the reaction to be violent conduct and showed a straight red card. The sending-off came with the score level at 1-1, leaving Arsenal to play out the closing stages with 10 men.
League Two side Fleetwood led through Aaron Loupalo-Bi in the 21st minute before Viktor Gyokeres levelled after the break. Arteta had made nine changes, and the rotated side struggled for rhythm in the first half. Fleetwood then won the shootout 5-3, with goalkeeper Jay Lynch outstanding, to knock out the Premier League champions.
Dowman’s 2026/27 stats for Arsenal so far, as per FOTMOB:
Competition Matches Minutes played Chances created Duels won(%)
Premier League 1 19 – –
Premier League 2 2 150 5 50%
EFL Cup 2 175 3 37%
Champions League 1 5 – –
Arteta’s reaction and Dowman’s red card record
Dowman’s dismissal was his second red card this month, following an earlier sending-off while playing for England Under-19s. Fleetwood was only his second start of the season, and a coaching staff that trusts him with senior minutes will be concerned by such a short run of dismissals. Neal’s tackle was heavy, but a reaction that leaves his side a man short is hard to defend in any football match.
Mikel Arteta spoke to Max Dowman briefly as he left the pitch, and the exchange looked far from friendly. After the game, Arteta congratulated Fleetwood, but his comments showed discipline was on his mind, as he said the plan had been clear on “the things that emotionally we have to dominate.” Former Arsenal player Paul Merson criticised Arteta’s reaction on Sky Sports, putting the manager’s handling under scrutiny. Even so, Arsenal feel the punishment was disproportionate, and that view is behind the appeal.
Arsenal
Appeal plans and Arsenal’s next test
Arsenal must submit their appeal papers to the Football Association by 1pm on Thursday, according to PA. The club hope for a ruling before the weekend, as the ban would start with the Liverpool game. Without a successful appeal, Dowman faces a three-match ban that would also cover the games against Hull and Newcastle. That would rule him out of domestic action until Arsenal host Manchester City on 29 November. The ban does not cover Europe, so he could still face Slavia Prague in the Champions League on 4 November. Arsenal also have a precedent, as an independent commission removed Myles Lewis-Skelly’s three-match ban in January 2025.
The timing adds pressure, as Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke are out injured. Without them, Arteta has fewer ways to stretch defences and may use midfielders in wide roles. Narrow attacks are easier to defend, so Arsenal will need quick passing and runners from deep. Dowman’s ball-carrying has made him a useful outlet in tight spaces, which would be hard to replace. The Premier League champions travel to Liverpool on Sunday, and Viktor Gyokeres’s equaliser at Fleetwood was a rare positive.
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