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 at Fleetwood Town.
Moments before Arsenal crashed out of the competition on penalties against the League Two side, Dowman was sent off for violent conduct for allegedly attacking Fleetwood defender Harrison Neal. The pair were challenged to several 50-50s before a brawl broke out.
Dowman then walked down the tunnel and Arteta appeared to lean over and say something to the teenager as he walked past. This treatment of the youngster was criticized by Paul Merson, who felt the Arsenal manager should have put an arm around him.
Asked what he said to Dowman, Arteta told reporters: “It was something we discussed before the game.” Arteta declined to go into any detail about it when pressed.
ACTIvE Sky Sports Co-commentator Andy Hinchcliffe said the red card was harsh on Dowman and Arteta replied: “I haven’t seen it on camera. You can’t really see what happens. The decision was made by the referee and that’s it.
“And even with 10 players, we have three great chances to score the second goal.”
Asked if the incident is something Dowman needs to learn from, Arteta replied: “We knew when we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear about the things to expect, the things that emotionally we need to dominate.”
Merson questions Arteta’s reaction
Reacting to the incident, Merson said: “If it’s (Viktor) Gyokeres, who is an experienced international, he (Arteta) is not doing that – but he does that to a 16-year-old kid?
“He’s not the last person to be kicked out of Arsenal, not the first. If it was me, I’d put my arm around him. It’s still 1-1, they’re still in the game.
“We all say things in life that we wish we didn’t have and if he (Arteta) had it back, he would have done it differently.”
Dowman was sent off after allegedly being attacked in the middle of a mass brawl
friend Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff said: “I can’t understand the reaction. Arteta probably feels he was being bullied, naive which I think he is.
“It’s disappointing from Dowman, but when you see the reaction from Arteta… we have to remember he’s 16 years old.
“Yes, he’s a fantastic talent, but he’s going to 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 it right.”
Arteta has no complaints about Arsenal’s effort in defeat
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Arteta shares his thoughts after shock Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out loss to League Two side Fleetwood
Speaking after the game, Arteta was gracious in congratulating Fleetwood on the shock win – but did not think his Arsenal players lacked fight against the League Two side.
Instead, Arteta was frustrated that his side did not show a more clinical edge – scoring 19 shots off target, with Kai Havertz most to blame for missing three or four key chances.
“Firstly, congratulations to Fleetwood for getting through to the next round the way they did,” Arteta said. Sky Sports.
“A really sad day for us. I can’t fault the attitude of the players at all, I haven’t seen anyone not do what is required at this level, but we had so much ball, we had so many chances, so many shots and if you want the margins to be bigger than going to penalties, you have to take advantage of that. We didn’t and that’s what football is about.
“It wasn’t about the attitude, otherwise I’d be here pissed off. I’m sad, we’re all sad.
“We have a responsibility to represent this symbol in the best possible way, it was not about effort, application or determination to go for it, but we lacked other things to create much bigger differences.
“With what we produced, it should have been shown in the result.”
