Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals new Max Dowman expectation amid growing discipline issues

Arteta backs teenager Dowman to handle rough treatment on the pitch after his second red card in a month, but he will miss Sunday's trip to Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta has defended Max Dowman following the Arsenal teenager's straight red card against Fleetwood in midweek. Dowman was dismissed after reacting to a heavy challenge, and Arsenal's appeal of the decision was unsuccessful. It was his second sending-off in a month after also seeing red for England's Under-19s against the United States.

Arteta expressed disappointment with the appeal outcome and suggested Dowman was fortunate to avoid a broken foot from the challenge. However, the Arsenal manager backed the 16-year-old to cope with the physical treatment he will face, noting that talented young players experience such challenges from a young age. "Those players have experienced that since they were eight years old," Arteta said. "It is something that you are just born with and you are just being educated on the power, the way you are getting hit."

Downman is now suspended for Arsenal's Premier League trip to Liverpool on Sunday. Arteta expressed confidence in his squad's ability to perform in hostile atmospheres, citing recent wins at major European stadiums and Arsenal's improved mentality.