Arsenal legend draws on his own teenage setback to back Max Dowman after Arsenal red-card appeal fails
Ray Parlour has backed Max Dowman to bounce back from his first-team red card, drawing on his own experience of making a costly mistake as a teenager at Liverpool to urge the Arsenal youngster to learn from the setback.
Arsenal’s appeal against Dowman’s dismissal in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood Town has been rejected, leaving the 16-year-old facing a three-match domestic suspension.
Dowman was sent off late on for kicking out at Harrison Neal following a heavy challenge, compounding a frustrating evening for Mikel Arteta’s side, who were knocked out on penalties.
But Arsenal Invincible Parlour believes the teenager can emerge stronger from the experience, having himself endured an uncomfortable introduction to senior football at Anfield.
The former Arsenal midfielder was 18 when he made his debut against Liverpool in January 1992 — and marked the occasion by conceding a penalty.
“I played alongside Dave Rocastle, the brilliant Dave Rocastle, in central midfield, and we were going really well,” Parlour told Hayters. “Then, 44th minute, I gave away a penalty for a foul on Ronnie Rosenthal.
“I always remember Tony Adams going, ‘Ray, have you got the ball?’ I said, ‘No, Tony, I didn’t get the ball. I wish I did get the ball, Tony.’
“I thought George Graham would go mad at half-time. But he was good as gold. ‘Well done, son. Keep going.’”
Parlour’s first appearance at one of English football’s most intimidating grounds could easily have become a painful memory. Instead, he used it as a learning experience, returning to Liverpool the following season withg a starring role in a winning side.
“The following I went back, we won and I got man of the match,” he said. “So, again, that’s what you’ve got to do. It works.”
It is a message he believes Dowman, who impressed against Everton at the weekend, must take into his own early career. The teenager has experienced the highs of making another appearance in Arsenal’s first team and the disappointment of a red card within days.
“As I said, Max Dowman, he’d be on a high when he played well against Everton at the weekend, and then he’d be on a bit of a low when he got sent off the other night,” Parlour said.
“But you’ve got to learn from your mistakes. You’ve got to learn certain bits. Football is a rollercoaster ride. You ain’t going to get ups all the time. You’re going to get a few downs. It’s how you respond to the downs, probably.
“And I’m sure Max will be fine.”
Parlour felt Dowman was unfortunate to be dismissed, questioning whether the incident might have been viewed differently had the player been older.
“I thought he was unlucky, if I’m being honest,” he said. “But, you know, he’s been sent off. It’s still a red card. The ref could have seen it differently. I don’t think the red was needed. But it’s happened. So, you’ve just got to learn from that.
“Mikel Arteta’s been there as a youngster so will know how to handle the situation. And Max is only 16 years old. People forget that. I mean, would he have got sent off if he was 30 years old? Probably not. I don’t know. Maybe the refs made a big thing of it because he’s young?”
Parlour also warned that talented youngsters must learn to handle the extra attention and physical treatment they attract from opponents.
He pointed to Lionel Messi as an example of a player who has had to deal with being targeted throughout his career, even when several opponents are trying to stop him.
“Look at Lionel Messi all his life. I mean, three players with him. He still has to deal with it,” Parlour said.
“So, you’re going to have to come to terms with that. Because you’re such a good talent, they want to try and stop you playing. But you’ve got to be above that and say, ‘Well, you ain’t going to stop me playing. This is what I’m going to do for the team.’
“So, he’ll learn as he goes forward. But he’s 16 years old. Let’s not forget that. So, he’s still a young man. And I’m sure he’s learning every day.”
Parlour believes Dowman has the right support around him to ensure the incident does not derail his progress, pointing to his family and the experienced players in Arsenal’s dressing room.
“He’s got good people around him. He’s got a good family. They’ll look after him. And he’s got good people around him at Arsenal,” he said.
“People like Declan Rice will help him as well. People who are a bit more experienced than him will always be helping him along the way. So, he’ll be fine.”
Dowman will now have to wait for his next domestic opportunity, beginning with Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, the same ground where Parlour learned an early lesson about the highs and lows of life as a young Arsenal player.
