Ref Watch: Arsenal’s red card appeal will fail – Dowman was aggressive

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes Arsenal’s appeal against Max Dowman’s red card in their shock Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town will fail.

Dowman was sent off for violent conduct after kicking out at Harrison Neal following the defender’s strong challenge on the teenager late in the fourth-round tie, which Arsenal lost on penalties.

Arsenal must submit appeal documents by 1pm on Thursday and are hopeful a decision will be made before their match at Liverpool, live on Sky Sports on Sunday.

However, when asked if he thought Arsenal’s appeal would be successful, Gallagher told Sky Sports News: “I don’t, because of the aggressiveness of Dowman, and you can see the intent. I think it will fail.”

He added: “I think it is [a red card]. People are comparing it to Cole Palmer on Saturday (with Mateus Fernandes), I think Dowman is a little bit more aggressive.

“He knows what he’s doing. He almost brings his knee up in a kicking action.”

Gallagher believes Arsenal should also have been awarded a free-kick, and Neal a yellow card, for his tackle on Dowman.

“Although Neal gets the ball, he’s too aggressive,” said Gallagher. “It’s a reckless challenge and he’s had little regard to the safety of Dowman.

“Neal is not bothered whether he catches him afterwards. He was always going to get Dowman. He knows when he makes that tackle what he’s going to do. That’s enough for a free-kick and a yellow card.”

‘Dowman will get kicked all his career’

Sky Sports’ Paul Merson felt the red card was harsh, but that Dowman must be prepared to face strong challenges throughout his career.

“The tackle from the lad is an old-fashioned tackle. He gets the ball, follows through at the same time. In a way, I would say, it’s a great tackle,” he said.

“And then Dowman’s retaliating. His foot’s got caught. I don’t think it’s as bad as what everybody says. I think the reaction of the players has sort of made his decision.

“It’s not that bad. In my opinion, it wasn’t a red card. I don’t think it should have been given.

“The kid’s 16 years of age. Let’s not get away from it. My worry is that at Arsenal, and when you play for one of the big clubs, which I found out later in my career, you get told once or twice, and that is it.

“And he’s been told again. Obviously, Arteta’s told him. He got sent off the other week for England against the USA. He’s going to get that for the whole of his career. He’s going to be kicked.

“People are going to look at the game now, and they’re going to go, ‘Right, we’ve got to upset him. Try and get inside him. Try and upset him’. And he’s got to be better than that.”

Merson and McAnuff question Arteta reaction

As Dowman headed towards the tunnel and past the dugouts, Mikel Arteta leaned in and said something to the teenager, which Merson criticised, saying the Arsenal manager should have put an arm around him.

Asked what he said to Dowman, Arteta told reporters: “It was something that we discussed before the game.” Arteta refused to go into any more detail when pressed.

Asked whether Dowman has something to learn from the incident, Arteta replied: “We knew when we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to expect, the things that emotionally we have to dominate.”

Reacting to the incident, Merson said: “If that’s [Viktor] Gyokeres, who’s an experienced international, he [Arteta] isn’t doing that – but he does that to a 16-year-old kid?

“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.”

Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff said: “I can’t understand the reaction. Arteta probably feels it was petulant, naive which I think it is.

“It is frustration from Dowman, but when you see the reaction from Arteta… we have to remember he’s 16.

“Yes, he’s a fantastic talent, but he will make mistakes along the way. I didn’t like the reaction at all.”

He added: “Dowman is potentially the future of Arsenal. Arteta didn’t get that quite right.”