Arsenal: What did Mikel Arteta say to Max Dowman after red card against Fleetwood?

The 16-year-old received a straight red card for kicking out at Harrison Neal following a heavy challenge, leaving Arsenal with 10 men in the closing stages.

As Dowman headed down the tunnel, Arteta appeared to angrily address the youngster from the touchline.

Asked what he had said, Arteta told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Something that we discussed already before the match.”

Arteta’s response suggested he had warned Dowman before kick-off about the physical treatment he might face and the importance of not retaliating. The teenager had previously been sent off while playing for England Under-19s earlier this month.

Arteta declined to judge the dismissal before reviewing the footage, saying: “It's difficult to see on the cameras like that. So I prefer to watch it back properly and then I can assess the situation.”

Despite the red card, Arsenal’s bigger problem was their failure to beat League Two opposition, eventually losing on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Arteta insisted he could not fault his players’ attitude, but admitted they had failed to take their chances.

“I cannot fault at all the attitude of the players,” he said. “I haven't seen anyone not doing what is required at this level. But, obviously, we insisted so much, we have so much of the ball, so many chances, so many shots, and if you want the margins to be bigger than going to the penalties, obviously, you need to capitalize on that. And we didn't. And football is about that.”