Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained his reaction to Max Dowman after the youngster was sent off during the Gunners' shock Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town.

Dowman, 16, received a straight red card in the closing stages of the match after appearing to kick out at Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal following a heavy challenge. Arteta appeared visibly angry as the teenager walked towards the tunnel, sparking criticism from some football pundits.

Speaking after the match, Arteta revealed that his exchange with Dowman concerned something they had discussed before the game.

"It was something that we discussed before the game," the Arsenal manager explained. He also stressed that his players needed to control their emotions, revealing that the team had prepared for the physical challenges they expected from Fleetwood.

The Arsenal boss, however, declined to make a definitive judgement on Dowman's dismissal, insisting that he wanted to review the incident properly before commenting further.

Arsenal's disappointing evening ended with a 5-3 penalty shootout defeat after Viktor Gyokeres cancelled out Fleetwood's opening goal to make it 1-1 in normal time. Bruno Guimaraes missed the decisive penalty, sending the Premier League champions crashing out of the competition.

The result marked a memorable night for Fleetwood and a frustrating setback for Arteta's side.