Arsenal’s Max Dowman is set to miss three matches after his appeal against the red card he received in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood was turned down.
The 16-year-old midfielder was given a straight red card in the 85th minute after he reacted to a heavy challenge from Fleetwood’s Harrison Neal.
While Dowman did not fully kick out, his foot did come into contact with Neal.
The match ended 1-1, and League Two side Fleetwood then defeated the Premier League champions 5-3 on penalties.
Arsenal lodged an appeal against Dowman’s sending-off on Wednesday.
It was Dowman’s second red card this month, as he had also been sent off while playing for England’s Under-19s.
As Dowman walked off the pitch, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gave him a withering look and appeared to make an angry remark to the young winger.
Speaking after the game, Arteta said, “When we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to respect and the things that emotionally we had to dominate. It was very clear.”
Dowman was sent off for violent conduct, which under the laws of the game occurs when a player “uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball… regardless of whether contact is made.”
The Gunners were already short of options on the wing, with Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis, and Noni Madueke all currently out injured.
Arteta’s team returns to Premier League action with an away trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
