Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is facing criticism for his angry reaction to 16-year-old Max Dowman's red card in a Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The Gunners fell on penalties to the League Two side after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes, the biggest upset in the competition's history with the sides separated by 84 places in the English football pyramid.
Dowman saw red in the 86th minute after retaliating to a tough challenge from Harrison Neal. As the teenager walked off next to Arteta, the manager angrily glared at him and made a brief comment in his direction.
After the game, Arteta was asked what he said to Dowman and replied: "It's something that we discussed before the game," but refused to go into further detail.
Arteta
doesn’t look happy with Dowman pic.twitter.com/kKOKrEWvTh
— 🏴 (@0de11_) October 27, 2026
Following the incident, former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson said that Arteta's reaction was inappropriate.
"You have to remember he is 16 years of age, he's a kid," 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 Gyökeres 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.
"He's not the last person to get sent off for Arsenal and he's not the first."
Merson's fellow Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff agreed.
"Dowman is potentially the future of Arsenal. Arteta didn't get that quite right," McAnuff said.
Considered one of the best prospects in all of England, Dowman became Arsenal's second-youngest Premier League player ever when he made his debut last season at age 15 years and 235 days. He then became the Premier League's youngest scorer ever with his goal against Everton in March at age 16 years and 73 days.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mikel Arteta criticized for angry reaction to 16-year-old Max Dowman's red card
