Mikel Arteta has told Max Dowman that the teenager will be judged by the same standards as Arsenal’s other first-team players after his red card against Fleetwood.
Arteta said the situation was not one in which Dowman should receive special treatment because of his age. “We are not in Disneyland,” the Arsenal manager said, making clear that the midfielder would be held accountable in the same way as the rest of the squad.
The red card has therefore prompted a direct warning from Arteta as Dowman continues his involvement with the first team. The manager’s comments indicate that the club expects the teenager to meet its disciplinary and performance standards alongside more established players.
No further details about the incident or any potential punishment for Dowman were provided in the supplied material. Arteta’s position is that the player must respond to the dismissal while being assessed under the same expectations as his team-mates.
