Arsenal's Max Dowman will miss three matches after an appeal against his sending-off was rejected, the BBC reported on Thursday. The 16-year-old was shown a straight red card in the 85th minute of Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood.
Dowman was reacting to a heavy challenge by Fleetwood's Harrison Neal. According to the BBC, he did not fully kick out, but his foot made contact with Neal. He was dismissed for violent conduct. The laws of the game define this as using or attempting to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball. Contact does not have to be made.
The match ended 1-1. League Two Fleetwood then beat the Premier League champions 5-3 on penalties to knock them out of the competition. It was Dowman's second red card this month. He was also sent off while playing for England's Under-19s.
As Dowman left the field, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gave him a scathing look and appeared to make an angry comment, the BBC reported. After the game, Arteta said the team had been "very clear on the things to respect" and on what they had to dominate emotionally.
Arsenal were already short of options on the wing. Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke are all out injured. Arsenal return to Premier League action away to Liverpool on Sunday.