Max Dowman appeal verdict: Arsenal fail in bid to overturn red card against Fleetwood

Arsenal's appeal against Max Dowman's red card for violent conduct at Fleetwood has been dismissed by the FA; the 16-year-old will miss three matches.

Max Dowman will serve a three-match suspension after the Football Association upheld his red card from Arsenal's Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town. The 16-year-old was sent off in the 85th minute for kicking out at Fleetwood's Harrison Neal following a heavy challenge from behind. Mikel Arteta appeared frustrated with Dowman as he left the pitch, but Arsenal lodged an appeal arguing the teenager had been treated harshly. An independent FA commission dismissed both claims of wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment on Thursday.

Arteta had suggested after the match that he warned Dowman to expect heavy challenges and not to react, though the club argued the contact could have caused serious injury. The suspension comes at a difficult time for Arsenal, with injuries to Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke leaving them stretched in wide areas ahead of Sunday's trip to Anfield.