The hypocrisy of Mikel Arteta’s scathing reaction towards ‘kid’ Max Dowman
· Yahoo Sports
They don’t call them the troubled teens for no reason.
Max Dowman is 16 years of age (not sure anybody’s mentioned that before). Arsenal’s child prodigy is one of football’s most exciting talents, though as someone who cannot yet legally drive, he is still some way off reaching full maturity. His straight red card against Fleetwood, born from the short fuse not uncommon in those his age, was a clear indication of that.
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His outburst was hardly unprovoked; Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal had just lunged in with a scissoring challenge, the type that has broken legs before. But that isn’t an excuse to lose your head, not at this level. Neither is his age, which on the pitch is a non-factor; he has been entrusted to play senior football so is expected to carry himself like a senior footballer.
Max Dowman was sent off for violent conduct against Fleetwood (Reuters)Dowman’s kick-out, even if soft, was a major blunder on his end. He is now suspended for three games - barring a successful appeal - and will not get an opportunity for redemption until the visit of Manchester City on 29 November. That’s over a month of unavailability.
He should receive a dressing down from his manager to drive home the lesson that needs to be learned, especially in the context of his sending off for the England U19s at the beginning of the month. There is a pattern emerging of ill-discipline that Arsenal need to nip in the bud.
However, there’s a good way of dealing with these things and a bad way, especially when the player in question is not yet an adult. Mikel Arteta went for the latter when he appeared direct a furious reaction towards Dowman from the touchline as he walked down the tunnel, for all the world to see. This has now become the story, arguably more than his red card.
To reiterate, Arteta had every right to be angry at his player. The sending off was stupid, petulant and completely avoidable, putting Arsenal at a man disadvantage for the final five minutes, during which they could have found a late winner and avoided the perils of penalties. It lit the blue-touch paper for Arsenal’s humiliating Carabao Cup exit that would be sealed 21 minutes later.
But to put him on blast so publicly rather than wait until they’ve got the privacy of the dressing room felt irresponsible. Dowman is in an especially unique position as a player who burst onto the scene at the very top level aged just 15. Arteta himself has repeatedly stated how careful the club have to be in nurturing him to his full potential.
After becoming the Premier League’s youngest ever scorer with his goal against Everton in March, Arteta was keen to ensure the noise surrounding Dowman didn’t become overwhelming, even telling the media: “I need your help with that, guys.” You haven’t helped yourself here, Mikel.
Mikel Arteta had stern words for Dowman as he walked off the pitch (Getty)He’s poured fuel on the fire with his reaction, which now has a hypocrisy attached to it since he explained what compelled him to act the way he did.
"We knew when we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to expect, the things that emotionally we have to dominate,” Arteta said. Yet the 44-year-old Arsenal manager has also proven infallible on the emotional front. Arteta should have restrained himself and saved his telling off for the dressing room. Instead, he boiled over.
It’s rare to see a manager direct this sort of anger at a player who’s been sent off in the public eye. The trudge between touchline and tunnel is usually an awkward affair; sometimes there’s a consoling pat on the back, other times there’s a disapproving look, roll of the eyes or no acknowledgement at all. So why did Dowman get the explosive treatment?
Arteta’s scathing reaction towards Dowman has become the story (Getty)Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson questioned whether a more senior Arsenal player would have been subjected to the same rage. "You have to remember he is 16 years of age - he's a kid," he said.
"If that's Viktor Gyokeres, he [Arteta] isn't doing that. That's what I don't like. If it's an experienced international, I don't think he does that. He's a human being. He's not the last person to get sent off for Arsenal, nor the first.”
What goes on behind closed doors in London Colney to address Dowman’s dismissal is Arsenal’s business. But there is now a swirl surrounding the 16-year-old’s relationship with his manager that has been self-inflicted by Arteta. It is the last thing this situation needs. Both parties should have known better on a dismal night in the north west; it’s just one was a boy and the other was a man.