Arsenal lost their appeal over Dowman’s red card, and Arteta says this is not Disneyland
An independent commission has upheld Max Dowman’s red card from the Fleetwood defeat, so the 16-year-old misses Liverpool, Hull and Newcastle. Arteta explained his touchline reaction on Friday.
Oct 31, 2026
Arsenal tried to get Max Dowman’s red card at Fleetwood thrown out, and it did not work. An independent regulatory commission dismissed both of the club’s arguments, wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment, so the 16-year-old serves a three-match ban that starts with Sunday’s trip to Anfield.
Mikel Arteta was asked about it on Friday, and about the touchline moment that followed the red card. He did not back down on either.
What the commission ruled
Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute of the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday. Harrison Neal went in hard on him, Dowman kicked out, and referee Michael Salisbury showed a straight red for violent conduct. Fleetwood went on to win the shootout 5-3 after a 1-1 draw.
The FA said the commission rejected the claim that the red was wrong and the claim that three games was too much. Written reasons will come later. Dowman now misses the Premier League games against Liverpool, Hull City and Newcastle United. The ban covers domestic football only, so he is free to play against Slavia Prague in the Champions League on 4 November.
“Very disappointed, to be fair,” Arteta said. “Especially with the reckless tackles that he received, and then his reaction is minimal in relation to the action.” He said Arsenal had “put every argument on the table”, including Dowman’s age and what had happened earlier in the game. “Obviously, we have a very different opinion.”
“We are not in Disneyland”
The cameras caught Arteta leaning in to say something to Dowman as he walked off, and that drew more comment during the week than the red card. On Friday Arteta explained it. “My reaction comes from a moment of heat and extreme frustration, because I know the consequences of that,” he said.
He also said it was not the first time. “It’s something that we discussed just before we went out, because it’s not the first time that happened. It happened earlier this month with England.” Dowman was shown a straight red in an England under-19 friendly against the United States during the October international break.
Then came the line that will follow him around. “This is the environment, this is the reality. We are not in Disneyland, we are in the Premier League.” Arteta said the club looks after Dowman “so much” but will hold him to the same standard as everyone else, because otherwise “the rest of the boys, what are they going to tell me?” He added that there is no problem between the two of them.
Who Arsenal take to Anfield
Dowman’s ban lands on a squad that is already short of wide players. Bukayo Saka has been out with a quad injury since he limped off in the 10th minute of the 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich on 21 October, and Noni Madueke is an injury worry too.
Arteta made nine changes for the Fleetwood tie with Liverpool in mind. Most of the players he rested will be back on Sunday. The 16-year-old will not. Liverpool v Arsenal kicks off at 10pm IST on Sunday.