A lip-reader has revealed what Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said to young starlet Max Dowman following his sending-off against Fleetwood Town in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.
Dowman had impressed throughout the match. Then, in the 86th minute, he kicked Harrison Neal and was shown a red card, sparking an immediate clash between players from both sides.
As the 16-year-old walked past, Arteta leaned in and said something to him.
Speculation suggested the Spaniard had unleashed a scathing rebuke, fuming at the dismissal. Lip-reading expert Nicola Hickling, though, reckons the truth was rather gentler.
According to Football London, she claims Arteta told the player: "Go to the dressing room, Max."
The fourth-tier side pulled off a huge upset, dumping Arsenal out on penalties 5-3 after a 1-1 draw in normal time.