Paul Merson has called out Mikel Arteta for his scathing treatment of Max Dowman following the 16-year-old’s sending off against Fleetwood, claiming the Arsenal manager would not have done the same for more senior players.
Dowman was shown a straight red card in the latter stages of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup humiliation against Fleetwood, which saw the League Two side dump out the Premier League champions on penalties after holding them to a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.
The teeanger was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from behind from the Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal, who lunged at him near the touchline, and retaliated by kicking out to spark a brawl.
After being given his marching orders by referee Michael Salisbury, there looked to be a furious reaction from Arteta towards Dowman as he walked off the pitch and went straight down the tunnel.
However, former Arsenal manager Merson believes Arteta was wrong to give Dowman such a public dressing down considering his age and early development.
"You have to remember he is 16 years of age - he's a kid," he said on Sky Sports.
"He wasn't having the greatest of nights so he's going to get frustrated. He gets the chance every now and then to play for Arsenal.
"He probably feels he should be playing more. He gets the chance tonight, isn't doing too great. It's an old-fashioned tackle.
"If that's Viktor Gyokeres, he [Arteta] isn't doing that. That's what I don't like. If it's an experienced international, I don't think he does that. He's a human being.
"He's not the last person to get sent off for Arsenal and he's not the first."
Fellow pundit Jobi McAnuff was similarly stunned at Arteta’s stern words for Dowman, who will now miss Arsenal’s next three games through suspension.
"I'm really surprised,” he said. “Listen, maybe you know it's a bit of naivety, he's a young lad. But he [Arteta] gives him a proper talking to as he goes down the tunnel.
"Clearly not happy with that ill-discipline. But we do have to remember he's a young boy - he's a kid - in a really high-pressure situation.
"I can't understand Mikel Arteta's reaction. Listen, he probably feels frustrated, he's the manager, he probably feels it's a bit petulant, a bit naive, which is what I think it is.
"It's not really a full kick, his knee's kind of already in contact with the player, it's almost like a flick out really [after] the meaty challenge. It's frustration from Max Dowman after a bit of a difficult night.
"But when we see the reaction from Mikel Arteta, we have to remember, this is a 16-year-old kid. Yes, he's got an Arsenal shirt on; yes, he's a fantastic talent.
"He's going to make some mistakes along the way. I just felt the reaction, I didn't like it at all. He's obviously given him a little bit going down the tunnel."
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