Arteta warns Dowman 'we are not in Disneyland' after red card

Arteta revealed that he had spoken to Dowman on Thursday and said there were "no issues at all" between the pair. However, he added that he needs to be "very straight" with Dowman and clear of the standards expected.

Dowman was sent off for the England U19s earlier this month where he was also on the end of heavy challenges in a match with the United States.

Of that red card, Arteta said: "They are his age. They are 16 – the same. What is the reaction? That is the level and that is the reaction.

"And whether it is right or wrong, that is the reaction."

Arteta also spoke of the impact the red card had on the team, saying: "And the reaction when I don't win, you want to know what my reaction is? I am [angry] 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 and this level.

"We look after him so much that you cannot imagine.

"But at the same time we are going to demand from him, like everybody else, because he needs to earn the right to play. Because the other boys, what are they going to tell me? You need to be fair."

The Gunners did appeal against the red card but the Football Association (FA) upheld the decision. Of that, Arteta said he was "very disappointed", adding "we are lucky today that he (Dowman) hasn't had a broken foot."