Arsenal have suffered a major setback after the Football Association confirmed that teenage sensation Max Dowman will serve a three-match suspension following his red card against Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup.
The 16-year-old was sent off during Arsenal’s shocking Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town on Tuesday, October 27, after an incident involving Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal.
Dowman reacted to a heavy challenge by kicking out at his opponent, prompting referee Michael Salisbury to show him a straight red card in the 85th minute.
Arsenal were disappointed with the decision and immediately considered appealing the dismissal. The Gunners believed the youngster had been treated harshly, particularly because of the challenge that happened before his reaction.
However, the Football Association has now rejected Arsenal’s appeal, meaning Dowman must serve the full three-match suspension.
An independent regulatory commission dismissed the club’s claims of wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment.
The decision represents another frustrating moment for Mikel Arteta, who will now have to find alternatives while one of his promising young attacking players remains unavailable for domestic competitions.
Dowman is expected to miss Arsenal’s Premier League fixtures against Liverpool, Hull City and Newcastle United.
His absence could be particularly important ahead of the Liverpool encounter at Anfield. Arsenal are preparing for a difficult contest, and losing another attacking option is certainly not the kind of news Arteta wanted before such an important fixture.
The teenager has attracted considerable attention because of his technical ability, confidence and willingness to take on experienced defenders despite his young age.
Arteta has previously shown faith in Dowman’s abilities, giving him opportunities to develop alongside established first-team players.
However, the latest incident could serve as an important lesson for the youngster about controlling his emotions during difficult moments on the pitch.
The Arsenal manager had already indicated after the Fleetwood defeat that emotional discipline was something his players needed to maintain.
Despite the domestic suspension, Dowman will remain eligible to feature in Arsenal’s Champions League fixtures because the punishment applies to domestic competitions.
This means the youngster could still be available when Arsenal face Slavia Prague on November 4.
He is expected to return to domestic action when Arsenal take on Manchester City on November 29.
For Arsenal supporters, the immediate concern will be how the team manages without the young winger during the coming weeks.
The Gunners will need their experienced attacking players to step up, particularly with several important fixtures approaching.
Although the suspension is disappointing, Dowman still has plenty of time to learn from the experience and continue his development.
Arteta will hope the youngster returns stronger, more disciplined and ready to make another contribution to Arsenal’s campaign.
