Mikel Arteta has delivered a firm message to 16-year-old Max Dowman following his red card in Arsenal's Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town, telling the teenager that professional football demands discipline — and that he must learn to control his emotions.

Dowman was dismissed for violent conduct after kicking out at Fleetwood Town defender Harrison Neal in the closing stages of the tie. Arsenal ultimately exited the competition on penalties to the League Two side, and the club's subsequent appeal against the red card was rejected.

The dismissal leaves Dowman suspended for Arsenal's Premier League encounter with Liverpool on Super Sunday — a significant absence for the youngster.

Arteta defends his tunnel reaction

As Dowman walked toward the tunnel after his dismissal, Arteta leaned in and appeared to speak sharply to the teenager. Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson questioned the approach, suggesting the Arsenal manager should have offered the 16-year-old more comfort in that moment.

Arteta, however, pushed back on that assessment. "I haven't seen the reaction to my reaction," he said. "Whether that's positive or negative. You need to understand the context, the relationship I have with him and what we discussed before we went out."

The Arsenal manager drew a personal comparison to illustrate his philosophy. "If you see the reaction from my mother and father with me sometimes, you'd say 'you don't like that reaction' — but for me it was the best reaction ever, as it enabled me to be who I am," he explained.

Arteta also pointed to the burden the red card placed on Dowman's team-mates. "You want to see the reaction of his team-mates when they have to play with 10 men. What do you expect? That's the level and that's the reaction."

'We are not in Disneyland'

The Arsenal head coach was unapologetic about the standards he expects from his players — regardless of their age. "This is the environment and the reality. We are not in Disneyland, we are in the Premier League," he said.

Arteta stressed that care and demand go hand in hand at the club. "We look after him so much, but we are also demanding — he needs to earn the right to play, otherwise what are the rest of the boys going to tell me?"

At just 16, Dowman's development remains very much a work in progress, and Arteta appears determined to ensure the teenager's potential is matched by the mental resilience the top level requires.