Max Dowman red card: Mikel Arteta's tough love after dismissal - 'This isn't Disneyland'
Max Dowman was sent off in Arsenal's defeat to Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup and Mikel Arteta appeared frustrated as he went down the tunnel; Arteta wants to protect the 16-year-old but said "this is the Premier League, not Disneyland"
Friday 30 October 2026 14:41, UK
Mikel Arteta has gone down the tough love avenue with Max Dowman following his red card at Fleetwood, saying "this is the Premier League, not Disneyland" about the 16-year-old needing to control his emotions.
Moments before Arsenal exited the competition on penalties to the League Two side, Dowman was sent off for violent conduct for kicking out at Harrison Neal after the Fleetwood defender's strong challenge.
Arsenal appealed the red card but it was rejected meaning the youngster is suspended for the clash with Liverpool on Super Sunday.
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As Dowman headed towards the tunnel and past the dugouts, Arteta leaned in and said something to the teenager, which Sky Sports' Paul Merson criticised, saying the Arsenal manager should have put an arm around him.
When asked about whether he agreed with the criticism about his own reaction on Dowman, Arteta said: "I haven't seen the reaction to my reaction.
"Whether that's positive or negative. You need to understand the context, the relationship I have with him and what we discussed before we went out.
"If you see the reaction from my mother and father with me sometimes, you'd say 'you don't like that reaction' but for me it was the best reaction ever as it enabled me to be who I am.
"But you want to see the best and most beautiful reaction. You want to see the reaction of his team-mates when they have to play with 10 men.
"What do you expect? That's the level and that's the reaction. Whether it's right or wrong, that's the reaction. And the reaction when I don't win, I'm ****** off, big time.
"This is the environment and the reality. We are not in Disneyland, we are in the Premier League. We look after him so much but we are also demanding as he need to earn the right to play otherwise what are the rest of the boys going to tell me?"
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Arteta: There are no issues with me and Dowman
Arteta said: "My reaction was in the heat [of the moment] and of frustration as I know the consequences for that and especially for Max.
"It's something we discussed just before we went out because it's not the first time it's happened as it happened earlier this month with England.
"It will continue to happen with the way he plays and the way he attracts opponents. We have to be protective of him as he is 16 but also very straight with him about what to expect from him towards the team and the club.
"I had a talk with him yesterday. There are no issues at all. I've done it. That's why I'm so protective of these things and young players as we have all made these mistakes.
"We know how much you can get punished. And what happens next. It's not the first time, so we need to put an end to it very quickly."
