Arsenal's boss says the teenager gets no special treatment after his dismissal against Fleetwood, and the standards stay the same for everyone.
Mikel Arteta has delivered a blunt reality check to Max Dowman. The Arsenal boss made it clear that youth is no excuse after the teenager was sent off against Fleetwood.
"We are not in Disneyland," Arteta said, underlining that life in Arsenal's first-team group comes with real consequences. The manager insisted Dowman will be held to the same standards as every other member of the squad, whatever his age or reputation.
The message fits the culture Arteta has built at the Emirates, where discipline, accountability and attention to detail are non-negotiable. Young players get opportunities in that environment, but they also get no free passes when things go wrong.
For Dowman, the red card is a harsh lesson early in a career that has already generated plenty of excitement. How he responds, both in training and when he next gets his chance, will say a lot about his temperament. Arteta clearly expects him to learn from it, move on and come back sharper.
