Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has addressed the red card issued to 16-year-old midfielder Max Douman during their dramatic League Cup match against Fleetwood Town. The Gunners' manager revealed that he had forewarned the team about potential challenges.
This was something we discussed before the game, Arteta stated.
Reflecting on the incident, Arteta mentioned he hadn't seen the footage yet, but accepted the referee's decision was final. Even with ten men, Arsenal still managed to create three excellent chances to find a second goal.
Arteta highlighted that the emotional context of the match had been clearly communicated to players ahead of time:
We knew, when preparing for the match, exactly what to expect and what emotional elements we needed to control.
It’s worth noting that Douman received a straight red card towards the end of the tie after a clash with Fleetwood Town defender Harrison Neil. The match ended 1-1 at full time, and Arsenal subsequently lost 5-3 on penalties, resulting in their exit from the League Cup.
