Fleetwood eliminate Arsenal as Dowman sees red

Fleetwood Town eliminated Arsenal from the Carabao Cup after a 1-1 draw and a 5-3 penalty shootout, while 16-year-old Max Dowman was sent off late in the match. The League Two side advanced to the quarter-finals after Arsenal failed to convert their chances into a decisive lead. Dowman received a straight red card after reacting to a challenge from Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal. The dismissal left Arsenal with 10 players before the tie went to penalties. Accounts of the incident describe Dowman moving his leg toward Neal; some characterize it as a kick-out, while another says he did not fully kick out. The referee, Michael Salisbury, showed a red card for violent conduct. The exact nature of the contact was not independently established in the reports. As Dowman left the field, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appeared to speak to him. After the match, Arteta said the message concerned something they had discussed before the game but declined to explain further. He also said he had not reviewed the incident and did not fault his players’ effort in the defeat. Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson criticized Arteta’s public reaction, saying he believed the manager might have...