FA upholds Max Dowman's ban as Arsenal lose to Fleetwood, Arteta defends response
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the Premier League is not a playground while defending his decision to send 16-year-old Max Dowman off and uphold his suspension ahead of Arsenal’s league match against Liverpool. The Football Association rejected Arsenal’s appeal and confirmed a three-match ban for Dowman for violent conduct in the Carabao Cup loss to Fleetwood Town.
Arsenal had earlier announced it would contest the dismissal, and Arteta later explained that his brief remarks to the teenager had been pre-planned, a comment former player Paul Merson criticised. Fleetwood took a 20th-minute lead, later held a 1-1 draw and won the tie 5-3 on penalties, eliminating the Premier League champions from the competition.