Max Dowman was sent off as Arsenal were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Fleetwood

Mikel Arteta says he wants to watch Max Dowman's red card incident back again as the Arsenal boss was criticised for a furious reaction to the youngster being sent off in the Gunners' Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town.

With the match all square, Dowman responded following a robust challenge from Harrison Neal. The 16-year-old lashed out at his opponent, who stayed down on the turf, earning himself a red card and sparking a melee between the two teams.

Arteta was incensed on the touchline and was spotted exchanging heated words with Dowman as the youngster made his way towards the dressing room in the dying embers of the game.

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Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff was surprised by the red card, but pointed towards Arteta giving the youngster some stern words as he left the pitch.

He said: "I'm really surprised. 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."

Following the game, Arteta said on the red card: "It's difficult to see on the cameras so I'd prefer to watch it back properly and then I can assess the situation."

Pressed on what he specifically said to the youngster, he said: "Something that we discussed already before the match."

Arteta would go on to state that he couldn't fault the attitude of the players and said: "The attitude I have zero [problems with] otherwise I would be here absolutely fuming.

"I'm sad. I think we are all sad. We have the responsibility to carry this badge in the best possible way. It had nothing to do with effort, application or determination to go and win it, but we lacked other things to create a much bigger margin, and the ability should have been shown in the scoreline."

Speaking to the BBC, Arteta made it clear he'd already warned his Arsenal players about their temperament, and said: "Something that we discussed already before the match."

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Former Arsenal man Paul Merson felt it was a harsh sending off and said: "If they'd have had VAR they might have looked at it again.

"I feel for the lad. He's 16, hasn't had the greatest night, is a bit frustrated and has kicked away. I'd be interested to see what Mikel Arteta said to him when he walked off."