‘Not a normal reaction’ – Sky Sports pundits go in on Arteta for what Arsenal boss did to Max Dowman, 16, after red card

MIKEL ARTETA has been slammed for his reaction to Max Dowman’s first professional red card. The 16-year-old was given his marching orders in the 85th minute of Arsenal’s stunning Carabao Cup fourth-round exit at the hands of Fleetwood Town on Tuesday. Dowman reacted angrily to a firm challenge from Harrison Neal on the touchline, KICKING OUT at the midfielder. After the ensuing fracas had calmed down, referee Michael Salisbury didn’t hesitate to send the winger for an early shower. Arteta was far from happy with Dowman, whom he gave a death stare after briefly muttering something to the teen before he trudged down the Highbury tunnel. The Spaniard’s reaction to Dowman’s dismissal, which went viral, wasn’t well received by some of Sky Sports’ punditry team for the match. READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS Ex-Premier League star Jobi McAnuff said of the incident: “I didn’t like this at all. “That didn’t seem to be a normal reaction, it felt like there was a bit of an undertone.” Gunners cult hero Paul Merson said: “You’ve got to remember he’s 16, he’s a kid. “If that [was] Gyokeres [who had been sent off], he’s not doing that. But he does that to a 16-year-old kid. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS “He’s a talent, but also a human being. “For me, I would have put my arm around him. For me, that’s a classic moment.” Merson reckons that, with the benefit of hindsight, Arteta will regret how he reacted, saying: “If he could have that [moment] back, he’d do that different.” When quizzed about what he told Dowman as the teen made his way off the pitch, Arteta told BBC Sport: “[It was] something that we discussed already before the match.” On the defeat itself, Arteta, who insists Dowman will ‘learn’ from his moment of madness, said: “I’m sad, I think we are all sad. We have a massive responsibility to carry this badge in the best possible way. “It had nothing to do with effort or application or determination to win it. ” But we lack other things to create a much bigger margin than today. “With what we produce, they really should have been shown in the scoreline.”