Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been criticised for his reaction to Max Dowman being sent off in the Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town.
The Gunners were beaten by the League Two side on penalties at Highbury Stadium in a match that produced one of the competition's greatest upsets. Arsenal played the final five minutes plus stoppage time and then the shootout with a one-man disadvantage after Dowman was shown a red card for appearing to kick out at Harrison Neal.
Arteta's sideline reaction
As Dowman walked off the pitch and down to the tunnel, Arteta leaned towards the teenager with his arms crossed and aimed furious words in his direction.
Former Arsenal star Paul Merson believes the red card was harsh and that Arteta should have put his arm around Dowman instead of berating him.
"It could easily have been a yellow, but you've got to remember he's 16, he's a kid and he wasn't having the greatest night and he's going to get frustrated," Merson said on Sky Sports.
Merson's view on the teenager
"It's an old-fashioned tackle - he gets the ball then the player. If that's Gyokeres, who's an experienced international, he [Arteta] isn't doing that - but he does that to a 16-year-old kid," Merson added.
"He's not the last person to get sent off for Arsenal, nor the first. If it was me, I'd have put my arm around him. It's still 1-1, they're still in the game. We all say things in life we wish we hadn't and if he [Arteta] could have that back, he'd do it differently."
Arteta's explanation
After the match, Arteta explained his angry reaction to Dowman, stating the pair had a conversation before kick-off which suggested the teenager was told to keep calm under certain situations.
"Something that we discussed already before the match," Arteta told BBC Radio 5 Live.
