Arteta disappointed as Dowman red card appeal fails

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was disappointed that the appeal against Max Dowman's red card had been turned down, as the club prepare for a Premier League trip to Liverpool on Sunday.

Arteta said the challenge could have caused serious injury and that the club were lucky Dowman had not suffered a broken foot. “We’re very disappointed, to be fair, especially with the reckless tackles that he receives - his reaction is minimal in relation to the action.”

Asked whether Dowman was being punished, Arteta rejected that view. “It is what it is. We’ve put every argument on the table to make a case for it,” he said, adding that the club had a very different opinion on the decision.

Arteta also addressed his own reaction to the dismissal, saying the club had discussed it before the match. “We need to be able to tell each other the things as they are, because he’s 16 and we need to be very protective of him.”

On team news, Arteta said Noni Madueke's fitness would be assessed at training, and that Rice, Calafiori and Tzolis had all trained and were expected to be available. Bukayo Saka needed a further scan, and Arteta said more would be known after it.

Arsenal are second in the Premier League with 21 points from eight games, while Liverpool are fourth on 15. Arteta said the match would be a big one. “It’s 14 years that we haven’t won there, so it’s time to do it.”

Arteta also praised his counterpart, Andoni Iraola, a former teammate. “I know Andoni really well.”