Arsenal to appeal Dowman red card after Carabao Cup exit to Fleetwood
- Max Dowman, 16, was sent off in the 85th minute of Arsenal's Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood.
- League Two Fleetwood won 5-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1.
- Arsenal will appeal the straight red card, which carries a three-match ban.
Arsenal will appeal the red card shown to 16-year-old Max Dowman during Tuesday night's Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood Town, according to BBC Sport. The straight red came in the 85th minute after Dowman reacted to a heavy challenge from Fleetwood's Harrison Neal.
Complete Sports reports that Dowman did not fully kick out, but his foot made contact with Neal. He was dismissed for violent conduct, which the laws of the game define as using or attempting to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball, whether or not contact is made.
The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, and League Two side Fleetwood beat the Premier League champions 5-3 on penalties to knock them out.
What Arteta said
As Dowman left the pitch, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gave him a stern look and appeared to say something sharp. Asked afterwards what he told the teenager, Arteta said: "It was something that we discussed before the game." He declined to say more when pressed.
Arteta also said the team had been clear before kick-off about "the things to respect, the things that emotionally we have to dominate."
It was Dowman's second red card this month. He was also sent off while playing for England's Under-19s.
As things stand, the dismissal carries a three-match suspension. Arsenal are already short on the wing, with Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke all out injured.
