RAY PARLOUR has urged Max Dowman to “show his character” and bounce back from his red card against Fleetwood.
Dowman was during Arsenal’s shock exit to the Cod Army on Tuesday night.
The Gunners launched an appeal against the decision, – confirming that he will face a three-game suspension.
legend Parlour, who came through Arsenal’s academy ranks like Dowman, told the 16-year-old to “come back as a better player” after his ban.
The three-time Prem champion told SunSport: “You’re going to make mistakes here and there. I thought it was a little bit unlucky, if I’m being honest.
“He’s been sent off and the manager will have a couple of words with him. He’s 16 years old, people forget that, he’s still a young boy. Being a footballer is like a rollercoaster ride.
“You’re going to have highs and lows. He had a high when he scored against and he would be really disappointed on that coach back [from Fleetwood].
“But, that’s when you’ve got to show your character and say, ‘I’ll learn from that and come back a better player.’ I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s got a really good family around him.
“He’s got everybody going in the right direction. He’s going to hopefully be a superstar. He’s a brilliant player, we all know that.
“But you’re going to get your little blips in your career. And he’s certainly, that was one of his blips early in his career. I’m sure he’ll learn from it.”
Parlour, who made 465 appearances for Arsenal, didn’t receive his first red card until he was 28 years old, but recalls needing to apologise to his teammates for being sent off in the first half against back in 2001.
Parlour received two yellow cards before the break, with Arsenal leading 1-0 at half-time.
But his dismissal in the 44th minute changed the game and the Toon Army bagged three goals to pull off a memorable win at Highbury.
Recalling the feeling of letting his side down, Parlour said: “You always feel really guilty if you lose the game. If you win the game, you get away with it and you get through.
“You can get away with it a little bit more. But I remember we lost to Newcastle 3-1 when I got sent off in the first half.
“You’re really disappointed after the game. I apologised to the guys. But I did get the ball, and it shouldn’t have been sent off, if they had I wouldn’t have got sent off.”
Confirmation of Dowman’s ban means he will be unavailable for Arsenal’s their tricky trip to Anfield on Sunday.
The Gunners face Liverpool in a huge game as they look to bounce back from their shock cup defeat to Fleetwood on Tuesday, and Parlour has warned his former club that they cannot afford to lose again.
He said: “You just can’t lose the game at Liverpool. That’s the most important thing. A point wouldn’t be a bad point, but if you can win a game, great. But just don’t lose it.”
Parlour was speaking at the launch of Oakley Meta’s new film ‘We Go Again’, celebrating Arsenal’s partnership with the brand and their drive to win a second consecutive league title.
Arsenal are looking to pull off back-to-back Premier League triumphs for the first time in the club’s history.
But Parlour reckons that the mantra of ‘We Go Again’ can be applied to dusting themselves off and earning an important result against Liverpool this weekend after their midweek embarrassment, as well as searching for a second title.
The retired midfielder said: “It is a different game now, Liverpool away, compared to Fleetwood. Fleetwood, credit to them, they did really well.
“They stayed in the game and managed to get through, which is fantastic for their club.
“But the best thing you could ever do when you do get a disappointment, is bounce back straight away.
“Before the international break, you don’t want to be losing that sort of game with three weeks off. You want a game to come around pretty quickly to get it right.
“This is a perfect game for it, Liverpool away. If they can somehow get a result then everybody forgets about Fleetwood – that’s how works.”
