Carabao Cup Surprise
Arsenal suffered a major shock in the Carabao Cup after losing a penalty shootout to fourth tier side Fleetwood Town. The evening became even more difficult when 16 year old winger Max Dowman was sent off. Dowman received his red card following his reaction to a tackle from Harrison Neal.
As the teenager headed off the pitch, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gave him a glare and appeared to speak to him in anger near the tunnel.
Arteta Remains Tight Lipped
After the defeat, Arteta was reluctant to give details about his reaction to the young player. He stated that his irritation was linked to something they discussed before the game.
Arteta noted that he had not watched the incident back on video and accepted the ruling of the referee. He added that even with ten men, Arsenal still created three clear chances to score. When asked about how Arsenal prepare Dowman for opponent fouls, Arteta refused to give details, stating only that the team must dominate emotionally.
Pundits React To Incident
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson questioned the manager for losing his temper with such a young player. Merson pointed out that Dowman is only a kid who was frustrated on a difficult night. He suggested that Arteta would not react in the same manner toward an experienced player like Viktor Gyökeres.
Pundit Jobi McAnuff also believed Arteta handled the situation poorly, calling Dowman the future of Arsenal.
Missed Opportunities Cost Arsenal
Despite the defeat, Arteta praised Fleetwood Town for their attitude and the atmosphere in the stadium. He explained that he could not fault his players for their commitment during the match.
However, Arteta pointed out that Arsenal failed to take advantage of their dominance. He said that when a team creates that volume of chances, they need to score three, four, or five goals. Failing to do so meant relying on penalties, where the club was ultimately knocked out.
Read next
- Football predictions today
- Jackpot predictions this week
- Carabao Cup and every other league
- Carabao Cup official website
Good to know: We are not paid for any link on this page.
Be the first to comment
Tell us who you think wins and why. Keep it friendly. Links are removed on their own.
Note: comments are the writer own opinion, not ours, and never a tip from us.
18+Read this before you bet
- There are no sure bets. Every tip on this page is a chance worked out from data about the next game. A tip at 70 percent still loses about three times in ten. Anyone selling a sure bet or a fixed match is lying.
- Betting is not income. Never bet to pay rent, school fees or a loan, and never borrow to bet, including from mobile loan apps.
- 18 and over only. Betting under 18 is illegal in Kenya.
- Use licensed bookmakers. Only bet with operators licensed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya. Prices here can change before you bet, so check them first.
- Gambling can be addictive. If it stops being fun, stop. Read our responsible betting page or visit Responsible Gaming Federation of Kenya.
Good to know: We are not a bookmaker and we do not take bets. Full details are in our disclaimer.
