Mikel Arteta precedent on Arsenal red cards offers insight into Max Dowman dressing-down

Mikel Arteta has form when it comes to publicly dressing down his players after red cards for a loss of emotional discipline.

On Tuesday, Arsenal starlet Max Dowman, 16, received an angry retort from Arteta as he walked off the pitch after being sent off against Fleetwood Town for reacting to a heavy challenge from Harrison Neal.

The teenager’s dismissal capped off a disappointing night for the Premier League champions, who went on to lose 5-3 on penalties to the League Two outfit after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

READ NEXT: What Mikel Arteta said to Max Dowman after Arsenal star red carded vs Fleetwood

Arteta values emotional discipline

Arteta has previously been quick to hold his players accountable for losing their emotional discipline.

In 2020, the Arsenal boss was scathing about Nicolas Pepe in a post-match press conference, branding the Ivorian’s behaviour “unacceptable” after he was sent off for headbutting Leeds’ Ezgjan Alioski.

A month later, Granit Xhaka was also dismissed for grabbing Burnley’s Ashley Westwood by the throat.

Asked whether he would describe Xhaka’s actions as “unacceptable”, Arteta replied: “Same word.”

He continued: “And in these conditions even worse. [In] the conditions that we are in when we are not winning football matches it’s even worse.”

His reaction to Dowman appears to stem from a similar frustration: a belief that players must maintain their emotional discipline.

Asked what he said to Dowman after his dismissal, Arteta cryptically responded: “Something that we discussed already before the match.”

Asked whether Dowman has something to learn from the incident, Arteta said: “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.”

Arsenal appealing Dowman red card

According to Sky Sports, Arsenal are appealing Dowman’s red card, with the Gunners required to submit appeal documents before 1pm on Thursday.

The club are reportedly hopeful they will receive a decision before Sunday’s Premier League encounter against Liverpool, though the timings of the process and decision will be made by the FA.

The Gunners are light on the flanks ahead of the Liverpool clash, with Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke all recovering from injuries.

Arteta’s reaction led to criticism from swathes of fans online and in media, with ex-Arsenal player Paul Merson telling Sky Sports that the Spaniard must be mindful of Dowman’s age.

"You have to remember he is 16 years of age - he's a kid," former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson said on Sky Sports.

"He wasn't having the greatest of nights so he's going to get frustrated. He gets the chance every now and then to play for Arsenal.

"He probably feels he should be playing more. He gets the chance tonight, isn't doing too great. It's an old-fashioned tackle.

"If that's Viktor Gyokeres, he [Arteta] 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.

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"He's not the last person to get sent off for Arsenal and he's not the first."