Arsenal will be without Max Dowman for three Premier League matches after their appeal against his red card in the Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood was rejected by an independent commission.
The 16-year-old was sent off in the 85th minute of Tuesday’s fourth-round tie after kicking out at Harrison Neal following a heavy challenge. Arsenal argued the dismissal was wrongful and that the subsequent three-match suspension was excessive, but the Football Association confirmed on Thursday that both claims had been dismissed.
Dowman will now miss Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, followed by the home fixture against Hull and the away game at Newcastle. He will be available for Arsenal’s Champions League meeting with Slavia Prague on 4 November and the suspension ends before the Premier League fixture against Manchester City on 29 November.
The decision is another setback for Mikel Arteta after a disappointing night at Fleetwood, where Arsenal surrendered their place in the competition following a penalty shootout. The Gunners had made nine changes and struggled to impose themselves against the League One side, who secured one of the biggest results in their history.
Fleetwood had taken the lead through Aaron Loupalo-Bi in the 21st minute after Arsenal made a poor start. Martin Odegaard came on at half-time and Viktor Gyokeres equalised soon after, but the visitors could not find a winner before the tie went to penalties.
Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimaraes’ spot-kick before 19-year-old defender Conor Haughey converted the decisive penalty to send the home side into the quarter-finals.
Arteta had expressed concern about Dowman’s dismissal after the match and admitted he had not yet spoken to the youngster about the incident.
“When we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to respect, the things that emotionally we have to dominate, it was very clear,” the Arsenal manager said.
The teenager had been involved in a bruising contest before his dismissal, but the commission found no grounds to overturn the referee’s decision. The FA said its written reasons for rejecting Arsenal’s appeal would be published at a later date.
Fleetwood will face another Premier League opponent, Everton, in the next round.
