Alan Shearer comes to the defence of Arsenal star after recent criticism: “he stood up and took what he had to take.”
Alan Shearer - Arsenal - Myles Lewis-Skelly - Premier League
Alan Shearer - Arsenal - Myles Lewis-Skelly - Premier League
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Reactions to on-pitch incidents can vary widely depending on the perspective of those watching. Former players often draw on their own experiences when assessing how a young footballer responds under pressure. Those observations can add another layer to discussions about discipline and decision-making in competitive matches.
The red card issued late in a cup tie has already led to a suspension that will cover several upcoming fixtures. Appeals processes in English football rarely reverse such decisions once the initial ruling is confirmed. Attention has now turned to how different voices have interpreted the sequence of events that led to the dismissal.
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Max Dowman will miss Sunday’s trip to Liverpool after Arsenal’s appeal against his red card at Fleetwood was dismissed on Thursday, according to Arsenal Insider. The 16-year-old will also sit out the home game against Hull and the visit to Newcastle, all for kicking out after Harrison Neal flew in on his standing leg late in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat.
Plenty of people have criticised his reaction, including Mikel Arteta, who had a stern word with him as he walked off. But Alan Shearer saw something else in it. Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Shearer felt the referee was too quick to reach for the red card, and he admired how Max Dowman handled the challenge itself.
“Do you know what was admirable?” he said. “There are a lot of players that would have gone down screaming, rolling around, getting that challenge. Yet he stood up and took what he had to take. So from that point of view, I thought, yeah, I don’t mind that.” He’s got a point. Plenty of players would have stayed down and made sure Neal was punished. Dowman didn’t, yet he’s the one who’s ended up serving a ban.
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Gary Lineker agreed. “I quite admire the fact that he stayed on his feet for what was probably quite a dangerous tackle,” he said. “I think the referee should have just perhaps given a yellow card each and got the game going.” Shearer also warned that this won’t be the last time. “Because of how good he is, he is going to get that,” he said. “He is going to get people wanting to come in and crunch him.”
As far as Micah Richards is concerned, it was “never a red card”, and he has no time for the idea that Dowman should have just walked away. “You know how annoying it is when people say he shouldn’t react. What do you mean he shouldn’t react?” he said. “If the tackle would have been a fraction higher, a fraction lower, it breaks his leg. It’s a natural instinct, a natural reaction to react, especially when you’re 16.”
Dowman’s ban starts at Anfield on Sunday, where Arsenal will already be without Bukayo Saka and are sweating on the fitness of Noni Madueke and Christos Tzolis. The comments from Shearer and others have highlighted different views on how the incident was handled. Arsenal will now prepare without the teenager for the next three league matches.
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