Arsenal have failed in their appeal against the red card shown to teenager Max Dowman during Fleetwood Town's Carabao Cup victory last Tuesday. The Football Association's independent commission dismissed claims of wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment, confirming the three-match suspension for violent conduct.
The 16-year-old was sent off in the 85th minute of the fourth-round tie for kicking out at Fleetwood's Harrison Neal following a heavy challenge. The decision stood after a review, meaning Dowman will miss Arsenal's next three domestic fixtures. The incident occurred during a dramatic match that saw Fleetwood secure their first-ever win over a Premier League club in this competition.
After a 1-1 draw, the League Two side triumphed 5-3 in a penalty shootout. Aaron Loupalo-Bi had given Fleetwood a first-half lead before Arsenal's Viktor Gyökeres equalised. A flurry of late spot-kicks, including successful conversions from Ronan Coughlan, Harrison Neal, Will Davies, Andy Cannon and Conor Haughey for the hosts, sealed the historic result.
For Fleetwood, the cup success provides a bright spot in a challenging league campaign. The Cod Army currently sit 18th in League Two with 14 points from 13 matches, having won three, drawn five and lost five. Their recent form shows one win, two draws and two losses from the last five outings. They are 14 points behind leaders Salford City.
The victory over Arsenal followed a 2-1 league defeat at Exeter City and precedes a key home fixture against Bristol Rovers this Saturday. Bristol Rovers are positioned 16th in the table, just two points ahead of Fleetwood.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was reportedly angry with Dowman's reaction, which came after the player had been warned about teams targeting him. This was the youngster's second red card in a month, having also been dismissed while playing for England's Under-19s. The Gunners' appeal argued the punishment was excessive, but the FA commission upheld the original decision.
The dismissal compounds a selection crisis for Arsenal ahead of their Premier League trip to Liverpool this Sunday. Key wingers Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke are all injured, leaving Eberechi Eze as the only fit senior wide option. Fleetwood now turn their focus back to League Two matters, aiming to build on their cup heroics against Bristol Rovers at Highbury Stadium.
