Arsenal fans are unhappy with Mikel Arteta because of how he reacted to Max Dowman’s red card against Fleetwood.
Mikel Arteta’s reaction to Max Dowman after he was sent off during Arsenal’s Carabao Cup loss to Fleetwood Town has been talked about a lot online.
It was a tough night for the Gunners, starting badly when Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave the League Two team a surprise lead in the 21st minute. Viktor Gyokeres added another goal just after half-time.
But Arsenal couldn’t turn things around and lost 5-3 on penalties at Highbury Stadium. This was the first time the current Premier League champions were knocked out of the League Cup by a fourth-tier team.
On top of that, Arsenal set an unwanted record that night when 16-year-old Dowman became the youngest player ever to get a red card in the Carabao Cup.
Dowman was playing only his second game this season after scoring twice in the previous round against Ipswich Town. Sadly, his night got worse when he reacted to a rough challenge from Harrison Neal by kicking out, and the referee sent him off straight away.
As Dowman walked to Arteta before leaving the pitch, the manager spoke to him in a firm, angry way. Many Arsenal fans didn’t like how Arteta treated the young player, especially since some thought the red card was a bit harsh.
One fan said, “That stare and talk from Arteta to Dowman after the red was tough. It feels like different rules for some players.” Another wrote, “Arteta was way too hard on Dowman… the tackle on him was really bad.”
Others spoke up too, saying things like, “Can’t believe Arteta was so harsh on a 16-year-old after a mistake like that. The kid needed support, not criticism,” and, “Arteta should have given him a hug, not shouted at him.”
This is Dowman’s first big challenge as a pro, and many feel he deserved more encouragement from his manager instead of visible anger.
FA rules say a straight red for violent conduct usually means a three-game ban. That could mean Dowman misses the upcoming games against Liverpool, Hull City, and Newcastle United.
Arsenal might try to appeal to reduce the ban, but there’s no word yet on what they’ll do.
It’s clear Dowman was unlucky to get a straight red. If VAR had been there, like in the Premier League, the referee might have sent off Neal too or at least given him a warning for the dangerous tackle.