Dowman sent off as Arsenal exit Carabao Cup to Fleetwood
Arsenal lost to League Two Fleetwood Town on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with 16-year-old Max Dowman sent off and Mikel Arteta criticised for his reaction.
Arsenal were eliminated from the Carabao Cup last-16 after losing on penalties to League Two Fleetwood Town, following a 1-1 draw in normal time. The Premier League champions had dominated with 26 shots and 78% possession but fell behind before being taken to a shootout. The defeat came against a side 84 places below them in the football pyramid.
The match turned on the sending-off of 16-year-old winger Max Dowman, making just his second start of the season. After a heavy challenge from Harrison Neal, Dowman made a movement towards Neal with his leg, giving referee Michael Salisbury a decision to make. It was Dowman's second red card this month, having also been dismissed while representing England U19s during the last international break.
Manager Mikel Arteta gave the youngster a scathing look and spoke angrily to him as he left the pitch, later saying it was "something that we discussed already before the match". Arteta had named an experimental side featuring debutant Ceadach O'Neill and 17-year-old Marli Salmon alongside seasoned internationals including Jurrien Timber, Martin Zubimendi, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres, but even the introductions of Martin Odegaard and Bruno Guimaraes from the bench could not lift the performance.
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, questioned Arteta's treatment of the teenager, saying he would have put an arm around him instead. Merson suggested Arteta would not have reacted the same way to an experienced international such as Gyokeres, adding that it was a moment Arteta might wish he could take back. Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman, on 5Live, focused on Dowman's inexperience, saying the youngster could have no complaints and that he hoped the player would learn quickly from a poor reaction.
Arteta offered no criticism of his players' attitude, praising their application and determination, while congratulating Fleetwood on progressing. The match had earlier been stopped for more than eight minutes inside the opening two minutes when a drone flew above the pitch. The loss means Arsenal have still not won the League Cup for 33 years, echoing past upsets against Bradford City in 2012 and Sheffield Wednesday in 2015.
With Dowman now suspended and Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke all injured, Arsenal's wide options look slim ahead of Sunday's match with Liverpool.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
