Dowman’s ban removes a squad option
Arsenal’s trip to Anfield on Sunday arrives with a disciplinary storyline attached. Max Dowman, who is 16, was sent off in the 85th minute of the Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood Town. Arsenal drew 1-1 with the League Two side and lost 5-3 on penalties, according to [1]. The dismissal followed a sideline altercation, and the club’s appeal was rejected, so the red card stands, as [2] reports.
The ban covers three matches. [3] names them as Liverpool, Hull and Newcastle, so the teenager is unavailable for the whole of this early stretch. Manager Mikel Arteta said he would hold Dowman to the same standards as the other first-team players, and he publicly warned the player afterwards. That points to a squad that treats the incident as a lesson rather than a crisis. Even so, losing a young attacking option matters when the wide positions are already stretched.
A thin wide area and a striker question
The absence of Dowman lands on top of several injuries. Bukayo Saka is facing weeks out with a quadriceps injury picked up in the 2-2 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich, according to [3]. Noni Madueke missed the Fleetwood game with an ankle problem and is a doubt for Liverpool. Christos Tzolis is recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the last international break and is closing in on a return, though his fitness for Sunday is uncertain.
The same report says Eberechi Eze is the only fit senior wide option for Arteta unless Madueke recovers. That leaves little room for rotation or tactical change if Eze is hurt or struggles at Anfield.
The central attacking role raises a different question. [4] describes Kai Havertz as the most likely striker to start, with Mikel Merino mentioned as a possible alternative. Both lineups are unconfirmed, so treat them as indications rather than team news.
Goals from the front line are scarce
The striker debate has a clear statistical backdrop. Havertz has played 561 minutes without scoring in any competition since his last goal, against Chelsea. Viktor Gyokeres has failed to register a shot in eight Premier League starts and has no league goal this season, according to the same [4] column. It adds that Arsenal’s defenders have scored more goals than their strikers this season.
That has not stopped results. Arsenal have won seven of their eight Premier League games, which shows how much of their output has come from elsewhere. The concern is that a visit to an opponent in form may demand more from the forwards than set pieces and defenders can supply.
Liverpool, for their part, are on a five-game winning run, and [5] columnist Paul Merson argues they must beat Arsenal to stay in the title race. Arsenal are unbeaten in six, which keeps the contrast between the two sides narrow.
What it means
Arsenal are second in the Premier League with 21 points from eight games: seven wins, no draws, one defeat, with 13 goals scored and five conceded. The goal difference of plus eight fits a side built on defensive solidity rather than a free-scoring front line, which matches the striker numbers above.
The recent form is strong. Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 at home on 24 October, drew 2-2 at Bayern Munich in the Champions League on 21 October, won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest on 18 October, beat Lille 3-0 on 13 October and beat Leeds 2-1 on 10 October. That is four wins and a draw in the last five, with only one of those matches won by more than one goal outside the Lille game.
The next fixture asks a specific question: can a side short of wide options and without a recent striker goal win at Liverpool on 1 November? Dowman is suspended, Saka is out and Eze is the only certain wide player. Our forecast for the match locks 24 hours before kick-off, so check the match page then for the call and for any team news that changes the picture.
Sources
- BBC Sport: Dowman to miss three matches after appeal rejected bbc.co.uk ↩
- BBC Sport: 'We're not in Disneyland' - Arteta on Dowman's red card bbc.co.uk ↩
- Sky Sports: Arsenal fail with appeal against Dowman's red card skysports.com ↩
- Sky Sports: Arsenal striker dilemma: Should Arteta keep faith in Havertz? skysports.com ↩
- Sky Sports: Merson: Liverpool must beat Arsenal to be in the title race skysports.com ↩
