Max Dowman has a chance to start for Arsenal this week despite serving a three-match ban for his red card against Fleetwood Town.
Max Dowman missed his first Arsenal match through suspension, watching his team-mates’ historic win at Anfield from the back in London. The 16-year-old has been missing since being sent off in the shock cup defeat to Fleetwood Town.
The sending-off became the big story of the week, both in terms of the teenage star’s actions and Mikel Arteta’s reaction when the forward left the pitch. Arteta said his reaction was just him and that it wasn’t Disneyland.
The Spaniard received mixed reactions to how he interacted with Dowman. Despite the red card, Arsenal appealed to the FA to have the three-match ban reduced or lifted; but this was rejected.
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“To be fair, I’m very disappointed,” Arteta said when asked about his appeal being rejected ahead of the trip to Liverpool. “Especially with the reckless moves he takes and then his reaction to the action is minimal.
“To be fair, in hindsight I’m disappointed it wasn’t cancelled.”
Hull City and Newcastle United will be the next games Dowman misses; however, due to suspension rules, the youngster will be able to play in Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League clash with Slavia Praha on Tuesday.
With Bukayo Saka injured and Noni Madueke overcoming his fitness issues to start and play a full match at Anfield, it would make sense for Dowman to go straight into the starting line-up.
It would be his first start in the race since switching to the side. Facing the winless Czech Republic, who sit 32nd out of 36 clubs with one draw and two defeats, looks like the perfect opportunity to give star minutes and protect the only fit-aged and natural right-back in the side.
It will also be a chance for a few other players who were unable to feature against Fleetwood Town to redeem themselves. Piero Hincapie, Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Victor Gyokeres, Mikel Merino, Cristhian Mosquera, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi were on the Anfield bench.