Mikel Arteta has defended his initial reaction to Max Dowman after the midfielder’s red card, whilst adding that he’d very disappointing the dismissal wasn’t overturned.
Following Max Dowman’s red card against Fleetwood Town, discourse was split between discussions of the actual incident and debates over whether Mikel Arteta’s reaction to Dowman was fair on the youngster.
Arteta was clearly unhappy with Dowman as the 16-year-old left the field, and he suggested afterwards that his displeasure stemmed from the fact they’d talked about avoiding such incidents before the game.
Some people have argued that Arteta wouldn’t have been so angry if he’d actually seen the incident himself, as the red card seemed very harsh with the benefit of the TV replays. On that note, Arteta has since admitted his disappointment that the dismissal wasn’t overturned.
“We’re very disappointed, to be fair, especially with the reckless tackle that he receives – his reaction is minimal in relation to the action,” Arteta said. “We’re disappointed it hasn’t been overturned having watched it back.
“We’ve put every argument on the table to make a case for [an overturn] – not only the action that is so evident, but when you look back in slow motion, the previous action and Max’s action is clear. Obviously, we have a very different opinion.
“It could have been really bad, and we’re lucky today that he hasn’t had a broken foot – that’s clear.”
All the same, Arteta has defended his initial response towards Dowman, explaining that their disappointment with the football authorities doesn’t change the fact that there is a learning opportunity for the teenager.
“My reaction comes from a moment of heat and extreme frustration, because I know the consequences of that, especially for Max,” Arteta said. “It’s something that we discussed just before we went out, because it’s not the first time that happened.
“It happened earlier this month with England, and it will continue to happen unfortunately because of the way he plays and attracts opponents.
“That’s it – we need to be able to tell each other the things as they are, because he’s 16 and we need to be very protective of him, but also very straight with him at the same time with what to expect of him towards the team, individuals, and the club.
“I had a talk with him yesterday…we have [all] made these mistakes. We know how much you can get punished, and how much it can change what happens next. It’s not the first time, so we need to put an end to it very quickly.”
Arteta’s reference to an incident on England duty relates to a friendly game Dowman played for the u19s against the USA. Dowman was again showed a straight red card for his reaction to a challenge, and the Arsenal manager is evidently keen to ensure that this doesn’t become a habit.
But it takes two to tango, and Dowman’s angry reactions would also be prevented if the referees did more to protect him from bad challenges. There are clearly opportunities for improvement on both sides.
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