Arteta says Dowman exchange followed pre-match discussion

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said his exchange with 16-year-old Max Dowman after the teenager’s red card referred to a discussion before the match, but declined to disclose what he said. The incident came during Arsenal’s League Cup elimination by Fleetwood Town, who advanced after a penalty shootout. Dowman was sent off late in the second half, leaving Arsenal with 10 players. As he walked off, Arteta leaned toward him and spoke. The manager later told reporters that the subject was something they had discussed before the game, and did not elaborate. The dismissal followed an incident involving Fleetwood defender Harrison Neal. Arteta said he had not watched the red-card incident on camera and preferred to review it before assessing it. He also said Arsenal had created chances to score again while playing with 10 men but had not taken them. Fleetwood held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw and won 5-3 on penalties to reach the League Cup quarter-finals. Goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimarães’s penalty, and Conor Haughey scored the decisive spot-kick. The result ended Arsenal’s run in the competition, while Fleetwood secured a place in the quarter-finals. Former Arsenal player Paul...