Mikel Arteta defends reaction to Max Dowman red card: 'This is not Disneyland'

Arteta defended his reaction to Dowman's red card against Fleetwood and criticized the teenager's three-match ban, saying the challenge could have caused serious injury.

Mikel Arteta has defended his angry reaction to 16-year-old Max Dowman's red card in Arsenal's Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town on Tuesday. Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute after reacting to a dangerous tackle from behind by Fleetwood's Harrison Neal.

Arteta appeared visibly frustrated with the teenager as he left the pitch. Speaking ahead of Sunday's match at Liverpool, former Arsenal manager defended his demeanor, saying it reflected his competitive nature and the demands of professional football. "We are not in Disneyland, we are in the Premier League," Arteta said. "We look after him so much but we are also demanding as he needs to earn the right to play."

Arteta also launched a scathing criticism of Dowman's three-match ban, suggesting the challenge from Neal could have broken the teenager's foot. Arsenal's appeal to overturn the suspension was dismissed by the FA, which rejected claims of both wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment.