Dowman ban upheld: Arsenal's 16-year-old misses Liverpool, Hull and Newcastle after Fleetwood red card

Arsenal will be without Max Dowman for Sunday’s Premier League game at Liverpool after the Football Association rejected the club’s appeal against his red card. The 16-year-old forward was sent off in the 90th minute of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood Town, and the ban is for three domestic matches: Liverpool on Sunday 1 November, Hull City at home on Saturday 7 November and Newcastle away on Saturday 21 November.

Sky Sports reported on Thursday evening that an independent commission turned down Arsenal’s two arguments, that the dismissal was wrongful and that the punishment was excessive. The FA treated the incident, in which Dowman kicked out at Fleetwood’s Harrison Neal after a heavy challenge, as violent conduct. In English football a red card for violent conduct brings a standard three-match ban, which is what Dowman has received.

Mikel Arteta spoke about it on Friday. “This is the Premier League, not Disneyland,” the Arsenal manager said, according to Sky Sports, of the need for a 16-year-old to control his emotions. He also explained his own angry reaction on the touchline: “My reaction was in the heat of the moment and of frustration as I know the consequences for that and especially for Max.” He said the club had to be “protective of him as he is 16 but also very straight with him,” and that he had spoken to the player on Thursday: “There are no issues at all.”

What happened at Fleetwood

Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, went to Fleetwood Town of League Two, the fourth tier of English football, on Tuesday 27 October in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, the English league cup. Fleetwood led through Aaron Loupalo-Bi after 21 minutes and Viktor Gyökeres equalised five minutes into the second half. Dowman was sent off in the 90th minute, and Fleetwood won the penalty shootout 5-3. Sky Sports’ report said Bruno Guimarães had his kick saved by Jay Lynch and Conor Haughey scored the winning penalty.

Arsenal lodged the appeal the next day. Sky Sports reported that Dowman had been warned by Arteta before the game to expect strong challenges and not to react.

Why it matters for Sunday

The ban lands in a week when Arsenal are already short of wide players. Bukayo Saka is out with a thigh injury and no return date, according to the Premier League’s own availability notes, which also list Noni Madueke as a doubt with an ankle problem and William Saliba as out with a back injury. Sky Sports’ report on the appeal said Eberechi Eze was the only fit senior wide option left for Anfield.

Dowman’s league role this season has been small: two Premier League appearances from the bench and one in the Champions League, according to Sky Sports. But he had started both of Arsenal’s cup games and scored twice against Ipswich in the third round, which is why losing him now stings. The ban covers domestic games only, so he is free to play in the Champions League at Slavia Prague on Wednesday 4 November if picked.

Arsenal and Manchester City both have 21 points from eight games, with City top on goal difference. Liverpool, in fourth on 15 points, host Arsenal at 17:30 CET on Sunday. The Premier League’s availability notes list Dowman as suspended until 29 November, the day Arsenal play Manchester City at home, which is the first league game after the three he misses.

What happens next

Dowman’s next possible domestic appearance is that City game on Sunday 29 November. Before then Arsenal play Liverpool, Slavia Prague, Hull, and, after the international break, Newcastle. The club has not commented on the failed appeal beyond Arteta’s remarks on Friday.