Mikel Arteta explained his touchline reaction after 16-year-old Max Dowman was sent off against Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup last 16 and gave an injury update before Arsenal's trip to Anfield on Sunday. Arsenal's appeal to overturn Dowman's dismissal was thrown out.
Arteta explains his reaction
Asked about it by Sky Sports, Arteta said: "My reaction came in a moment of great agitation and frustration because I know the consequences that follow from it, especially for Max. This is something we discussed right before we went out onto the pitch because it is not the first time. It happened earlier this month with the England Under-19 side, and it will continue to happen because of the way he plays and draws in opponents."
He also said: "I feel great disappointment, especially given the violent challenges he was subjected to. His reaction was at its minimum compared to the foul committed against him, and the challenges could have ended very badly, and we are lucky today that he did not suffer a broken foot."
What he said about Dowman
On his relationship with the teenager, Arteta added: "We have to be able to tell each other what we think. He is 16 years old, and we have to protect him strongly, and at the same time we must be clear and direct with him about what we expect of him towards the team, his team-mates and the club. There are no problems between us, and we spoke together yesterday."
Drawing on his own upbringing, Arteta continued: "If you had seen the reaction of my father and my mother with me at certain times, you would say that we do not like this treatment, but for me it was the best reaction of all, because it is what made my character and made me what I am today."
He then brushed aside any demand for a softer touch: "You are looking for the nicest and most perfect reaction, but did you want to see the reaction of his team-mates when they have to finish the match with only 10 players? What do you expect? This is the level required and this is the natural reaction, whether it is right or wrong. And even about myself, when I do not win, my reaction is angry and frustrated to the utmost degree."
His final word on the matter cut straight to the reality of elite football: "This is the competitive environment and that is the truth. We are not at Disneyland, we are playing in the Premier League. We care a great deal about him, but at the same time we demand many duties from him, because he needs to earn the opportunity to play through his effort, otherwise what will the rest of the players in the team say to me?"
Madueke and Saka updates
On Noni Madueke, he said: "We do not know his situation yet. We have a training session tomorrow, and we will see whether he can complete the session in full to assess his readiness."
Arteta explained Bukayo Saka's position by saying: "He needed to have another scan to find out the extent of the damage and whether the tendon has been affected and the size of that effect, and after that we will know more."
He added: "I do not know, it seems that way, but we have to wait and see what next week brings."
Three players train
Arteta confirmed that Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Christos Tzolis had trained. He said: "They all trained today and will train tomorrow, and if things go well they will be available to take part."
