Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has spoken about his brief exchange with Max Dowman after the youngster was sent off during their match against Fleetwood Town.

The 16-year-old received a straight red card in the 85th minute after kicking out following a bad tackle.

As Dowman made his way back to the dressing room, Arteta was seen speaking to the teenager, sparking questions about what had been said between them.

Asked to explain the conversation after the match, the Arsenal boss told reporters: “It was something that we discussed before the game.”

However, Arteta declined to provide further details when journalists pressed him for an explanation.

Arsenal’s night ended in disappointment as they were eliminated from the competition following a 5-3 penalty shootout defeat. The match had finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, leaving the tie to be decided from the spot.