Arsenal suffered a shocking exit from the Carabao Cup after a 1‑1 draw with Fleetwood Town that went to penalties, where the Gunners lost 5‑4. The defeat was sealed when 16‑year‑old winger Max Dow Dowman was sent off in the 64th minute for a reaction to a challenge by Harrison Neal. It was Dowman’s second red card in a month, the first coming while representing England U19s. The dismissal left Arsenal with only a handful of options on the flanks as Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke are all injured.
Dowman had impressed in the previous round, scoring twice as Arsenal beat Ipswich Town 3‑0. Manager Mikel Arteta gave the teenager a start in the last‑16 tie, hoping to fill the void left by the injured wingers. The match, played at Fleetwood’s Victoria Park, was dominated by the hosts. Arsenal created 26 chances and held 78 % possession but were unable to convert and went behind after a defensive error. The game finished 1‑1, and the Gunners were eliminated when they failed to convert a penalty.
After the match, Arteta was visibly upset with Dowman. He reportedly scolded the youngster in the tunnel, saying that the incident was “something we discussed before the match.” The referee, Michael Salisbury, had issued a red card after Dowman, who did not fully kick out, made a leg movement towards Neal. Arteta’s reaction was seen by former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson as a harsh response to a 16‑year‑old who was still learning how to cope with the physicality of senior football. Merson said on Sky Sports that “he’s a kid and he’s going to get frustrated,” and that the tackle was “old‑fashioned” but not something Arteta would normally allow.
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman also weighed in, suggesting that Dowman’s lack of experience contributed to the incident. Osman noted that “you have to know that people will try to kick you at times” and that the defender’s challenge was not unusual in a high‑intensity match. He urged Dowman to learn from the experience.
The loss is the latest in a series of cup defeats for Arsenal, who have not won the League Cup in 33 years. The club’s cup run ended with a 5‑4 penalty defeat to Fleetwood, a team 84 places below Arsenal in the football pyramid. With Dowman suspended, Saka out for six weeks, Tzolis still recovering and Madueke unavailable, Arsenal’s options on the wings are limited ahead of their Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday.
Arteta praised Fleetwood’s determination and said there was nothing to criticize the Gunners’ attitude. He acknowledged the poor start that saw Arsenal concede an early goal and conceded that the team’s performance was below expectations. The club will now have to regroup quickly as they prepare for the league match, hoping to avoid further injury concerns and to regain momentum after the unexpected cup exit.