Dowman sees red as Arsenal dumped out, but did Arteta go too far?

Max Dowman is used to grabbing headlines for producing moments of magic but, after being sent off in just his second start of the season as Arsenal suffered a shock loss to Fleetwood Town, the 16-year-old is facing the first test of his short career.

Dowman scored twice as Arsenal beat Ipswich in the previous round of the Carabao Cup and manager Mikel Arteta rewarded him with another start in the last-16 tie at Fleetwood.

And this one was perhaps more of a chance than it looked. Arsenal are currently light on options in the wing with Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke all injured.

But, after being held by Fleetwood during normal time where the Gunners went behind despite having 26 shots and 78% possession, the Premier League champions lost on penalties following Dowman's red card, after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

Arteta gave the youngster a scathing look as he left the pitch and angrily said something to the winger as he went down the tunnel, revealing after the game that it was "something that we discussed already before the match".

The young winger reacted to a heavy challenge by Harrison Neal and, although he did not fully kick out, he made a movement towards Neal with his leg that gave referee Michael Salisbury a decision to make.

It is Dowman's second red card this month after he was also sent off while representing England U19s in the last international break.

"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 exprienced international, I don't think he does that. He's a human being.

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

'It was very clear'

"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." Arteta said following the game.

Dowman is one of best young players in Europe and tough treatment from defenders is something Arteta has previously said that Dowman will have to get used to.

"For me, I'd put my arm round him, it's still 1-1 and you are in the game." Merson said on Sky Sports.

"We all say things in life when you think 'I shouldn't have said that'. For me that's a classic moment where if he could have that back, he'd do it different." Merson said of Arteta's actions.

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman also believes that it was a lack of experience that played into Dowman's red.

"It was on the far side of the pitch, but from what we saw [Dowman] can't have any complaints." Osman said on 5Live.

"Yes, there were a lot of challenges flying in thick and fast from both teams, and then, there was that moment when a huge challenge came in on him, but as I mentioned earlier they happen so often.

"And you have to know as a good player, people are going to try to kick you at times, and that's what happened.

"It was a poor reaction from him and you hope he learns and he learns quickly."

Where does Fleetwood beating Arsenal rank in biggest cup upsets?

Nothing to criticise the players for their attitude - Arteta

The surprising loss to Fleetwood, a team 84 places below Arsenal in the football pyramid, was made even worse by the fact that the Gunners' under-21 team had beaten AFC Wimbledon, a side in a division higher than the hosts, on the same night in the EFL trophy.

The first incident of the match came with under two minutes on the clock when the game was stopped for more than eight minutes when a drown was flown above the pitch.

Perhaps Arsenal should have taken that as a warning.

Arteta named an experimental side and gave a debut to 18-year-old Ceadach O'Neill, started 17-year-old Marli Salmon at centre back, 16-year-old Dowman on the wing while goalkeepr Illan Meslier was making his first start for the club too.

But the Gunners boss surrounded that inexperience with seasoned internationals such as Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie, World Cup winner Martin Zubimendi, Champions League winner Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres.

All of those players played a huge part in the Gunners winning the Premier League title last season.