Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals new Max Dowman expectation amid growing discipline issues

Dowman was shown a straight red card against Fleetwood in midweek after reacting to a heavy challenge.

Arsenal's appeal of that decision was unsuccessful, leaving Arteta "disappointed" as he suggested Dowman was lucky to avoid a broken foot. It was his second sending-off of the month after he also saw red for England’s Under-19s in a friendly against the United States.

However, Arteta has repeatedly emphasised that he has spoken to Dowman about not reacting on the pitch, and he defended his angry response to the teenager after he was dismissed.

The Arsenal boss is confident that Dowman is well-equipped to deal with whatever he faces from the opposition, having done so from a young age on the pitch and even in training.

“Those [kind of] players, it’s not that they come to La Liga or the Premier League or to France - where there are a few cases as well - and they learn on the day or the next few months," Arteta said.

"Those players have experienced that since they were eight years old. Everybody tries to stop those kinds of players.

Max Dowman was sent off against Fleetwood for retaliating to a heavy-handed tackle

PA

"It is something that you are just born with and you are just being educated on the power, the way you are getting hit or the tricks that the adult players know that the kids don’t. You have to handle that better.

"But Max is so used to it because he has it there - and he has it in training as well because no one wants to be dribbled past by a 15 or 16-year-old."

Dowman is now suspended for Arsenal's trip to take on Liverpool on Sunday.

The Gunners have not beaten Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League since 2012, when Arteta started in midfield.

It has been a long wait for Arsenal, but it is one that Arteta believes they are now better equipped than ever to end.

"I think we're so used to it now," Arteta said.

"This kind of atmosphere, not only in England, but we're going abroad, we're going to the Bernabeu, we're going to Bayern Munich, where we played in Europe a few days ago, and we have won in the biggest stadiums now.

"That's it. Play with that confidence, with that conviction and trust, and focus on what we have to do."