Arteta tells Max Dowman 'We are not in Disneyland' after red-card appeal rejected

Mikel Arteta warned Max Dowman he "is not in Disneyland" and must learn from the 16-year-old's red card at Fleetwood in the League Cup on Tuesday after Arsenal's appeal against his three-match suspension was rejected.

Arsenal, the Premier League champions, crashed out to League Two side Fleetwood in that tie, during which Dowman became the youngest player ever to be sent off in League Cup history. Arteta said he was "very disappointed" the Football Association rejected the club's appeal and added that Dowman had been fortunate not to suffer a broken foot following what he described as "reckless tackles". The manager also noted Dowman had been sent off last month while playing for England's Under 19s.

Arteta said he had spoken to Dowman this week to underline the player's responsibilities, linking his approach to personal experience. "I’ve done it, so I try to prevent that [in future]. That’s why I’m so protective of these things and especially with young players, because we have made those mistakes. You know how much you can get punished and how much it can change what happens next, and it’s not the first time, so obviously we need to put an end to it very, very quickly," he said.

The manager rejected suggestions his reaction to Dowman's dismissal was inappropriate and said he had warned the forward beforehand that he might be targeted. "It’s something that we discussed just before we went out, because it’s not the first time that happened," he said. "For me, it was the best reaction ever to be able to be who I am. You want to see the reaction of his teammates? When they have to play with 10, you want to see that? That’s the level, and that’s the reaction. But the reaction when I don’t win, you know what the reaction is? I’m pissed off, big time.

"So we need to be ready for that. This is the environment and this is the reality. Otherwise, we are in Disneyland. We are not in Disneyland. We are in the Premier League at this level and we look after him so much that you cannot imagine. But at the same time, we’re going to demand [from] him like anybody else because he needs to earn the right to play."

Arteta said the club had "put every argument on the table" in an attempt to have the red card overturned and repeated his disappointment at the decision. "Very disappointed," he said. "Especially with the reckless tackles that he received, and then his reaction is minimal in relation to the action. "I think you have to read the context of the player, the age, and what happened previously. It could have been really bad. And we are lucky today that he hasn’t had a broken foot. That’s clear."

Arsenal face immediate selection consequences: Dowman will be suspended for Sunday's trip to Liverpool and for the games against Hull and Newcastle. Noni Madueke faces a late test to determine whether he has recovered from the ankle issue that kept him out at Fleetwood, and Arteta said Bukayo Saka is not expected back until at least after the international break as the club await more news on his thigh injury.