Arsenal Knocked Out of Carabao Cup by Fleetwood as Max Dowman Is Sent Off

Arsenal are out of the Carabao Cup after losing a penalty shootout at Fleetwood Town, and the night will be remembered for a red card shown to 16-year-old Max Dowman.

The fourth-round tie finished 1-1 on Tuesday 27 October. Fleetwood then won 5-3 on penalties, a sequence in which each side takes turns to kick from the spot to settle a match that is level. The Carabao Cup is the League Cup, a knockout competition, so one defeat ends a club's run. Arsenal came into the game as Premier League champions.

Dowman is a midfielder, a player who works in the central part of the pitch. He was shown a straight red card in the 85th minute. BBC Sport reports that the dismissal followed his reaction to a heavy challenge from Fleetwood defender Harrison Neal. Sky Sports says Dowman was sent off for violent conduct after kicking out at Neal. Dowman's foot made contact with Neal during the incident.

Referees have the final word on the field, but the card was a hard moment for a teenager in a big game. SportBible notes that it made Dowman the youngest player ever sent off in the Carabao Cup. It was also his second red card in the same month. Earlier in October he was dismissed while playing for England Under-19s.

Arsenal will appeal against the decision, according to BBC Sport. An appeal asks the football authorities to review a card, and it can sometimes shorten or cancel a ban. Manager Mikel Arteta has been asked about his own reaction on the touchline. Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson criticised Arteta's response to the sending-off on Sky Sports on Monday, and the debate about it has been loud since.

Dowman has been part of Arsenal's young group for a while, so the sending-off will sting. A player his age learns quickly that a moment of anger can cost his team more than a goal. Arsenal now turn their attention back to the league, where the Premier League champions have a long season ahead.

For Fleetwood, it is the kind of night a club of their size holds onto for years. They beat the holders of the title on home ground and went through on spot kicks. Their supporters will remember a defender's heavy challenge and a young midfielder's reply, but mostly they will remember the final scoreline.