In the morning.
Let’s start again Max Dowman had his three-game ban upheld after Arsenal’s red card appeal failed. The club made the offer on the grounds of wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment, but the claim was rejected by the independent regulatory commission, which will publish their “written reasons” in due course. Thank you for that.
You will already know that I think it is very heavy. I thought the sending off was harsh, especially with the video evidence to support the appeal, and it’s really unfair for a player to miss three games for such a small reaction to a tough call. I would say if it was an Arsenal player or not. This is another example that we hear about the concept of player protection all the time, but the reality is that there have been countless incidents that could have been used to demonstrate that there was seriousness about it, but it never, ever happens.
How absurd is Max Douma serving the same ban as Ryan Shawcross for splitting Aaron Ramsey’s leg? Remember that Dan Smith Abou Diaby ankle sprain that ruled him out for 9 months, an injury so serious it affected the rest of the Frenchman’s career? He didn’t even get a red card that day, so apply that context the next time you see Dermot Gallagher pontificating on Sky about how he got a referee’s clearly wrong decision right (he was the referee at the Stadium of Light that day).
Football has a real violent behavior problem, but it chooses to deal with it by trying to think that performance violations like Dowman’s deserve the same punishment as real acts of violence. Dangerous tackles, two-footed jumps (which probably take a bit of a backseat to the game since they’re not penalized), shoving an opposing player while in the air, they’re not on the same scale. If Dowman deserves a three-game ban, he should get at least ten games the next time someone elbows an opponent in the shin.
But we know that won’t happen. For almost as long as this blog has been going (now coming up on 25 years!), I’ve argued for a sliding scale of punishment for acts that meet the definition of violent behavior. Some things are more severe than others, but as long as this three-game blanket penalty exists, regardless of the severity of the incident, those in charge are over-enforcing the game and doing the players a disservice.
Still, it is now, and Arsenal will have to live without Dowman for games against Liverpool, Hull City and next November’s away trip to Newcastle, Inter’s away side. He could feature against Liverpool this weekend, but now we’re sweating on Noni Madueke’s fitness, Eberechi Eze is the only other option for the left-back. There are some whispers that Christos Tzolis could fight again on Sunday, which would be a welcome boost, but the forward line looks a little light for this important game.
Tuesday night’s game against Fleetwood will live on in the memory for its giant-killing aspect, but for the two young Academy players, it’s hopefully a formative night. For Dowman, there’s a lesson in how you react, even if you think what he did deserves a red card. To be honest, I think there’s something nice about getting ready to defend yourself against a grown man who wants to, as they say, “stay on him for a bit.” Talented players are the ones who get hit the most, though, and that’s something he’ll have to deal with as his career progresses. Just ask Bukayo Saka. The two have a lot of time at the moment and I’m sure it will be part of his football education.
The other player is Marley Salmon, who probably should have done better in goal, but for me is less culpable than some of the older players who didn’t perform at the right level. Arsene Wenger once said:
You pay for the education of young football players with points. If I play a 20-year-old centre-back, I know he will cost me points during the season and I have to stand up for that. A less talented 28 year old would cost me less points. However, you have a player until 23/24.
Marley Salmon is 17 years old. He didn’t cost us any points. He still has a long way to go but I’m sure the coaching staff will look at what happened against Fleetwood and he will learn from it. It is more difficult for young defenders than young strikers. A mistake at the top of the pitch, such as Dowman’s long shot from a position where he should have scored, is not as costly as a forward running past a young defender to score the game’s opening goal. But again, it’s all part of the process, every young player makes mistakes, it’s how you use them to improve after that and I’m sure he’ll do that.
Right, let’s stay there for now. If you haven’t had a chance to listen yet, the Arsecast is below and we’ll have an initial podcast for you on Patreon shortly after hearing what Mikel Arteta had to say at his press conference. Also, our Patreon members get the first chance to order our limited edition book The 22 today at 3pm. If you’d like to attend the launch in London next Friday, there are still a few places available, but you need to register here –
Until then, happy Friday my friends.