Mikel Arteta expressed disappointment after Arsenal's appeal for Max Dowman's red card at Fleetwood Town was dismissed. The 16-year-old forward will serve a three-game suspension after reacting to a challenge from Harrison Neal during Tuesday's Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat. Arteta defended his own reaction to Dowman leaving the field, emphasizing the need for the teenager to adapt to top-level physicality. "But you need to understand the context, the relationship that I have with him and what we discussed just before we went out," Arteta said. "If you see the reaction of my father and my mother with me, someday you will say, I don't like the reaction. For me, it was the best reaction ever to be able to be who I am." The Arsenal manager warned that without proper adaptation, the team would be "in Disneyland," stressing the harsh reality of Premier League football. Dowman, the youngest Premier League goalscorer, has made just 18 senior appearances but holds multiple Guinness World Records. Arteta brought him into the first-team setup last summer during the Singapore tour. Regarding the appeal, Arteta argued the reaction was minimal compared to the reckless tackles Dowman received, but the independent panel upheld the sanction. "It is what it is. We have put every argument on the table," he stated.
Arsenal faces Liverpool this weekend looking to step up after the shock Fleetwood loss. Ødegaard urges the squad to improve following the Carabao Cup exit.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing