Arsenal were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the fourth round on Wednesday, losing to League Two side Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium. The evening was compounded by the 85th-minute dismissal of teenage midfielder Max Dowman, who was shown a red card for kicking out at Fleetwood's Harrison Neal. According to Goal.com, manager Mikel Arteta confronted the academy player on the touchline as he left the pitch.
Why it matters
The result removes Arsenal from a domestic competition at the hands of a team sitting 18th in the fourth tier. It also leaves Arteta managing a disciplinary issue with one of the club's most promising young players, days before a Premier League meeting with Liverpool. Goal.com reports that Dowman's suspension adds to an already thin set of wide options.
A sending off on a difficult night
Dowman had been among the few Arsenal players to offer attacking threat before his exit, delivering service toward Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber. His reaction to Neal, however, left Arsenal a man short late in a match they had not managed to win in normal time. Arteta stood with his arms folded and spoke sharply to the teenager as he walked off, per Goal.com's account.
Asked about the exchange by BBC Radio 5 Live, Arteta said the conversation concerned "something that we discussed already before the match," according to Goal.com. He declined to give a firm verdict on the incident itself, saying he wanted to review the footage before assessing it.
A pattern the manager is watching
The red card is Dowman's second within a month. Goal.com reports he was also sent off while playing for England's Under-19 side, dismissed for a reckless challenge after becoming frustrated with physical treatment from opponents. Arteta appears concerned that the player is being targeted by provocation, and that he is responding to it.
A stronger side, and still no win
Arsenal's lineup was not a purely youthful one. Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres started, and Gyokeres equalised after Fleetwood had taken the lead. Arteta then turned to Martin Odegaard, Ben White and Eberechi Eze from the bench in an effort to force a winner, but the hosts held out through 90 minutes. The tie went to penalties, where Bruno Guimaraes had his attempt saved and Fleetwood won 5-3, per Goal.com.
What to watch
Arsenal travel to face Liverpool on Sunday with their wide positions depleted. Goal.com reports that Bukayo Saka is expected to be out for around six weeks, Christos Tzolis is still working back to match fitness, and Arteta confirmed in his post-match briefing that Noni Madueke is also dealing with an injury. Dowman's suspension further reduces the manager's options for that fixture.
