Max Dowman red card: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explains his reaction to 16-year-old after sending off in Carabao Cup exit to Fleetwood Town

Mikel Arteta has explained his reaction to Max Dowman as the 16-year-old went down the tunnel after being sent off in Arsenal's shock Carabao Cup exit to Fleetwood Town.

Moments before Arsenal exited the competition on penalties to the League Two side, Dowman was sent off for violent conduct for kicking out at Harrison Neal after the Fleetwood defender's strong challenge on the teenager.

As Dowman headed towards the tunnel and past the dugouts, Arteta leaned in and said something to the teenager, which Paul Merson criticised, saying the Arsenal manager should have put an arm around him.

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Asked what he said to Dowman, Arteta told reporters: "It was something that we discussed before the game." Arteta refused to go into any more detail when pressed.

On Sky Sports co-commentary duty, Andy Hinchcliffe said the red card was harsh on Dowman and Arteta replied: "I haven't seen it with the camera. You can't really see what happens. The decision was made by the referee and that's it.

"And even with 10 men, we have three big chances to score the second goal."

Asked whether Dowman has something to learn from the incident, Arteta replied: "We knew when we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to expect, the things that emotionally we have to dominate."

Merson questions Arteta reaction

Reacting to the incident, Merson said: "If that's [Viktor] Gyokeres, who's an experienced international, he [Arteta] isn't doing that - but he does that to a 16-year-old kid?

"He's not the last person to get sent off for Arsenal, nor the first. If it was me, I'd have put my arm around him. It's still 1-1, they're still in the game.

"We all say things in life we wish we hadn't and if he [Arteta] could have that back, he'd do it differently."

Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff said: "I can't understand the reaction. Arteta probably feels it was petulant, naive which I think it is.

"It is frustration from Dowman, but when you see the reaction from Arteta... we have to remember he's 16.

"Yes, he's a fantastic talent, but he will make mistakes along the way. I didn't like the reaction at all."

He added: "Dowman is potentially the future of Arsenal. Arteta didn't get that quite right."

Arteta has no complaints about Arsenal effort in defeat

Speaking after the game, Arteta was gracious in congratulating Fleetwood on the shock victory, but he didn't think his Arsenal players showed a lack of fight against the League Two side.

Instead, Arteta was frustrated that his side didn't show a more clinical edge, putting 19 shots off target, with Kai Havertz most guilty of missing three or four top opportunities.

"First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood for going through to the next round in the manner they've done it," Arteta told Sky Sports.

"A really sad day for us. I cannot fault at all the attitude of the players, I haven't seen anybody not doing what is required at this level but we had so much of the ball, had so many chances, so many shots and if you want the margins to be bigger than going to penalties, you have to capitalise on that. We didn't and football is about that.

"It wasn't to do with attitude otherwise I would be here fuming. I'm sad, we're all sad.

"We have a responsibility to represent this badge in the best possible way. It was nothing to do with effort, application or determination to go and win it, but we lacked other things to create much bigger margins.

"With what we produced, it should have showed in the scoreline."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Max Dowman red card: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explains his reaction to 16-year-old after sending off in Carabao Cup exit to Fleetwood Town