Mikel Arteta did not hide what he thought. Max Dowman was walking off at Highbury Stadium with a straight red card in the 85th minute, and his manager gave him a look that television caught in full, then said something to him as he went down the tunnel.
The argument that followed has very little to do with the sending off itself, which most people watching thought was correct. Harrison Neal went through Dowman with a heavy challenge. Dowman reacted. He did not fully kick out, but he moved his leg towards Neal in a way that gave referee Michael Salisbury something to decide, and Salisbury decided. Leon Osman, watching for BBC 5 Live, said from what he saw the 16-year-old could have no complaints. "It was a poor reaction from him and you hope he learns, and he learns quickly."
Merson's objection is about who it was
Paul Merson's problem on Sky Sports was not the red card either. It was the response.
"You have to remember he is 16 years of age — he's a kid," the former Arsenal midfielder said. "He wasn't having the greatest of nights so he's going to get frustrated." Then the line that has travelled furthest: "If that's Viktor Gyokeres, he isn't doing that. That's what I don't like. If it's an experienced international, I don't think he does that. He's a human being." Merson said he would have put an arm round him instead, pointing out the tie was still level and still there to be won. "We all say things in life when you think 'I shouldn't have said that'."
Arteta would not repeat what he said. He did explain where it came from. "When we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to respect, the things that emotionally we have to dominate. It was very clear." Pressed again, he said only that it was something discussed before kick-off. Arteta has said before that a player as good as Dowman will have to get used to being kicked.
Second red card this month
The timing does not help the teenager. This was his second dismissal in October, after he was also sent off playing for England Under-19s during the last international break. It was only his second start of the season, and the cup tie looked like a real opportunity rather than a token one, because Arsenal are short of wingers. Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke are all unavailable.
Dowman had scored twice against Ipswich in the previous round, which is why he was out there at all. That is the awkward part of the night for Arsenal. A 16-year-old who had just delivered a two-goal performance in the same competition was then handed the sort of physical evening that lower-league sides specialise in, and nobody looked after him on the pitch.
The wider damage
Arsenal had 78% of the ball and 26 shots at a League Two side and lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Arteta had picked an experimental team, handing a debut to 18-year-old Ceadach O'Neill and starting 17-year-old Marli Salmon at centre-back, with Illan Meslier making his first start in goal. Around them stood Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Kai Havertz and Gyokeres, all of whom were part of last season's title-winning squad. Martin Odegaard and Bruno Guimaraes came off the bench. It made no difference.
"First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood for going through to the next round," Arteta said. "The manner that they have done it, and for us a very sad day. There is nothing to criticise the players for their attitude, their application."
Dowman is now suspended. With Saka out for around six weeks, Tzolis still working his way back and Arteta confirming after the match that Madueke is injured too, Arsenal's wide options for Liverpool on Sunday are thin to the point of being a selection problem rather than a selection choice.
Match facts: Fleetwood Town 1-1 Arsenal (Fleetwood win 5-3 on penalties), Carabao Cup last 16, Highbury Stadium, 27 October 2026. Dowman sent off 85'. Arsenal: 78% possession, 26 shots. Arsenal have not won the League Cup for 33 years, and previously lost to Bradford City on penalties in 2012 and to Sheffield Wednesday in 2015. Quotes via Sky Sports and BBC 5 Live.
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