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‘We are not in Disneyland’: Arteta warns Dowman of Arsenal’s demands

30 October 2026 at 18:44
  • ‘We have made these mistakes … you can get punished’

  • Dowman lost appeal against red card at Fleetwood

Mikel Arteta has warned Max Dowman that he “is not in Disneyland” and must learn from his red card against Fleetwood after Arsenal’s appeal against his three-match suspension was rejected.

The 16-year-old became the youngest player ever to be sent off in the League Cup on Tuesday as the Premier League champions crashed out to the League Two side Fleetwood. Arteta said he was “very disappointed” that the Football Association rejected the appeal against his red card and felt Dowman was lucky not to suffer a broken foot from “reckless tackles”.

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© Photograph: Carl Recine/Getty Images

© Photograph: Carl Recine/Getty Images

© Photograph: Carl Recine/Getty Images

Max Dowman’s Fleetwood fracas leaves him, Arsenal and Arteta red-faced

28 October 2026 at 16:16

Teenager was maybe harshly sent off in the Carabao Cup tie but his reaction was a mistake he will learn from, while his manager might also have regrets

Mikel Arteta’s reaction said it all. As Max Dowman trudged towards the touchline after becoming the youngest player sent off in a League Cup match at 16 years and 300 days, the Arsenal manager could not help himself.

Arms folded across his chest like an angry father who has caught his teenage son sneaking in after midnight, Arteta leaned over and aimed a few choice words in Dowman’s direction before the forward headed sheepishly down the tunnel. What he said remains unknown, although that hasn’t stopped the amateur lip-readers speculating on social media. “Get in the changing room. Now,” appears the most likely guess.

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© Photograph: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

© Photograph: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

© Photograph: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

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