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Mikel Arteta said something to Max Dowman(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta was supposedly telling Max Dowman to "get in the changing room" following his red card during Arsenal's shock Carabao Cup exit at Fleetwood Town. The teenage prodigy had more than held his own against the League Two side, having been named in the starting line-up for the clash at Highbury.
But with only four minutes remaining, and the match locked at 1-1, Dowman was shown a red card after lashing out at Harrison Neal. The attacking midfielder was on the receiving end of a strong challenge by the Fleetwood midfielder as Neal dived in and knocked the ball out for a throw-in.
That provoked a reaction from Dowman, who swiftly kicked out at Neal with his leg, sparking a fracas between players from both teams. Referee Michael Salisbury wasted no time in brandishing his red card following the incident, leaving Arsenal with 10 men for the final moments of the match as Dowman headed towards the tunnel.
As he passed manager Arteta, the Spaniard was seen speaking to the 16-year-old. Lip-reading specialist Nicola Hickling, working with Covers.com, has explained what she interprets as being communicated to Dowman as he left the pitch.
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The expert claims that Arteta said: "Get in the changing room, Max." It only got worse for the Gunners as they were ultimately dumped out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, falling to defeat on penalties.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi had broken the deadlock for the hosts just 21 minutes in, with the Fulham loanee shrugging off Marli Salmon before coolly slotting past an onrushing Illan Meslier. Viktor Gyokeres levelled matters five minutes into the second half, latching onto Ceadach O'Neill's cross from the left with a scrappy and ungainly finish past Jay Lynch.
With both sides still deadlocked at full-time, a nervy penalty shootout was required to settle the fourth-round tie. With Ronan Coughlan, Neal, Will Davies and Andy Cannon all finding the net from the spot, Arsenal needed to keep their composure to progress to the next round.
Max Dowman was sent off against Fleetwood Town(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
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Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Gyokeres all delivered, but Bruno Guimaraes saw his effort saved by Lynch, the goalkeeper getting down well to deny the Brazilian's effort into the bottom right corner. Conor Haughey then stepped up with nerves of steel to make it 5-3 on penalties, sending Arsenal crashing out of the competition.