Arsenal legend criticises Mikel Arteta's touchline reaction to 16-year-old Max Dowman's red card in shock Fleetwood defeat

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has publicly criticised manager Mikel Arteta for confronting 16-year-old Max Dowman as the teenager left the pitch following his straight red card in Tuesday's shock League Cup penalty shootout defeat to League Two Fleetwood Town. Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson said he would have "put my arm around him" rather than subject a player so early in his senior career to a visible dressing-down on the touchline.

Arsenal, held 1-1 before losing 5-3 on penalties, plan to appeal Dowman's dismissal, which was triggered when he reacted to a heavy sliding challenge by Fleetwood's Harrison Neal.

Arteta declined to disclose his words to Dowman at the touchline, saying only: 'It was something that we discussed before the game.'

Merson said: 'If that's Viktor Gyokeres, an experienced international, he isn't doing that — but he does that to a 16-year-old kid?'