The matches Max Dowman will miss suspended if Arsenal's appeal is unsuccessful
On a night when everything went wrong, what will be the repercussions of Arsenal's visit to Lancashire? The Premier League champions were ignominiously dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Fleetwood Town on Tuesday, beaten on penalties by the side currently 18th in EFL League Two.
Viktor Gyökeres bundled home an equaliser shortly after half time, but Mikel Arteta's team could not find the winner, so the tie was to be decided by spot-kicks. Bruno Guimarães was the only man to miss from 12 yards, his attempt saved by Jay Lynch, and Arsenal were out.
However, the main talking point after the match was Max Dowman's red card five minutes from time. After a wild tackle from Harrison Neal, Dowman make contact with the Fleetwood player, but not very much, merely nudging him with his thigh.
Neal received only a yellow card for his potentially ankle breaking challenge, while Dowman was dismissed by referee Michael Salisbury. This is an abysmal decision, and how the teenager's action can be deemed violent conduct is baffling.
Thus, Arsenal have officially appealed the suspension, and are hoping to hear the outcome as soon as possible. With no VAR in operation, they stand a far greater chance of this being a success. Even so, Pascal Struijk of Brighton recently had a one-match ban overturned, after being sent off during a Premier League game at the Stadium of Light so, even though that was a totally different incident, it is still possible.
Nevertheless, as things stand, Dowman will be banned for three games, so which matches is the 16 year old currently scheduled to sit out?
Matches Max Dowman will miss suspended (subject to appeal)
Sunday 1 November: Liverpool - Anfield. Premier League. Kick off 4:30pm.
Saturday 7 November: Hull City - Emirates Stadium. Premier League. Kick off 3pm.
Saturday 21 November: Newcastle United - St James' Park. Premier League. Kick off 5:30pm.
Despite the fact the red card was brandished in an EFL Cup game, Dowman will serve any suspension in the Premier League. This will start at Anfield on Sunday, as well as sitting out subsequent Premier League matches against Hull and then Newcastle.
Before the 16 year old can play again in the Premier League, this when Manchester City visit North London on 29 November, he can at least appear in two Champions League matches, namely against Slavia Prague next Wednesday and Borussia Dortmund on the 24th.
Arteta will seriously hope the appeal is successful, otherwise he is very light out-wide, considering Bukayo Saka is set to be sidelined for around two months, after picking up a quad injury in Munich. Noni Madueke did not travel to Fleetwood due to a knock, but is forecast to be back by the weekend, with Eberechi Eze also starting against Liverpool.
Currently, Christos Tzolis is not yet back either, so 18 year old Ceadach O'Neill made his senior debut on Tuesday, but is not yet ready for Premier League minutes. Having said that, the Northern Irishman could find himself on the bench at Anfield, if Dowman is indeed not available. We shall see.
