Arsenal Lodge Appeal Against Max Dowman's Fleetwood Red Card

Arsenal are appealing the red card shown to Max Dowman during Tuesday night's Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood Town, according to Simon Collings.

The 16-year-old was sent off in the final ten minutes at Highbury Stadium after reacting to a firm challenge from Fleetwood's Harrison Neal. As Neal lay on the ground having won the ball, Dowman turned and appeared to push him with his leg, sparking a scuffle between both sets of players before referee Michael Salisbury showed the teenager a straight red.

As the youngster walked past the dugouts to walk down the tunnel, he appeared to receive firm orders from a furious Mikel Arteta. 

With no VAR in operation for the tie, the decision could not be reviewed on the night, and Arsenal went on to lose 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

As it stands, the red card carries a three-match suspension, which would rule Dowman out of Arsenal's next three Premier League games, away at Liverpool, at home to Hull City and a trip to Newcastle United. Should the appeal be successful, the ban would be rescinded and the teenager would be available for selection at Anfield on Sunday.

The club will now present their case to an independent regulatory commission, which will review the footage and decide whether the dismissal was justified. Clubs that lodge an appeal deemed frivolous can face an extended ban, which suggests Arsenal are confident the incident did not meet the threshold for violent conduct.

Arsenal last lodged an appeal after an unfair dismissal in January 2025, when Myles Lewis-Skelly’s red card at Wolverhampton Wanderers was overturned, clearing the defender to play in the following matches.

Speaking after the game on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta stopped short of defending Dowman, but suggested his side had expected the teenager to be targeted.

'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,' he said. 'It's difficult to see on the cameras, so I prefer to watch it back properly and then I can assess the situation.'

Having now reviewed the incident, it appears Arteta and the club believe there are grounds to challenge the decision.

A successful appeal would provide a welcome boost for Arsenal, who are short of options on the right flank. Bukayo Saka is expected to be out for six to eight weeks, while Noni Madueke was also sidelined for the trip to Fleetwood with an ankle problem, leaving Dowman as one of the few natural options remaining in wide areas.

Arteta is also dealing with fresh injury issues to Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori. 

The teenager has impressed whenever called upon this season, scoring twice in the previous round against Ipswich Town, and Arteta will be hoping to have him available as Arsenal look to keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

A decision on the appeal is expected before Sunday's trip to Liverpool.