Max Dowman is used to grabbing headlines for producing moments of magic but, after being sent off in just his second start of the season as Arsenal suffered a shock loss to Fleetwood Town, the 16-year-old is facing the first test of his short career. Dowman scored twice as Arsenal beat Ipswich in the previous round of the Carabao Cup and manager Mikel Arteta rewarded him with another start in the last-16 tie at Fleetwood. And this one was perhaps more of a chance than it looked.
Arsenal are currently light on options in the wing with Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke all injured. But, after being held by Fleetwood during normal time where the Gunners went behind despite having 26 shots and 78% possession, the Premier League champions lost on penalties following Dowman's red card, after a 1-1 draw in normal time. Arteta gave the youngster a scathing look as he left the pitch and angrily said something to the winger as he went down the tunnel, revealing after the game that it was "something that we discussed already before the match".
The young winger reacted to a heavy challenge by Harrison Neal and, although he did not fully kick out, he made a movement towards Neal with his leg that gave referee Michael Salisbury a decision to make. It is Dowman's second red card this month after he was also sent off while representing England U19s in the last international break. "You have to remember he is 16 years of age, he's a kid," former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson said on Sky Sports.
"He wasn't having the greatest of nights so he's going to get frustrated. He gets the chance every now and then to play for Arsenal. "He probably feels he should be playing more, he gets the chance tonight, isn't doing too great.
It's an old fashioned tackle. "If that's Viktor Gyokeres he [Arteta] isn't doing that. That's what I don't like.
If it's an exprienced international, I don't think he does that. "He's not the last person to get sent off for Arsenal and he's not the first." "When we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to respect, the things that emotionally we have to dominate. It was very clear." Arteta said following the game.
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