Mikel Arteta has explained his reaction to Max Dowman's red card during Arsenal's shock Carabao Cup defeat by Fleetwood Town, revealing his message to the teenager referred to discussions before the match.
Arsenal were knocked out on penalties after being held to a 1-1 draw by the League Two side.
Dowman, 16, was dismissed for violent conduct after kicking out at Harrison Neal following a strong challenge.
Arteta spoke to the youngster as he passed the dugouts on his way towards the tunnel.
Asked afterwards what he had said, the Arsenal manager pointed to their preparations for the tie but declined to disclose the details of the exchange.
"It was something that we discussed before the game," Arteta told reporters.
He would not expand on that answer when pressed, but his response to a question about what Dowman could learn from the incident offered further insight into Arsenal's approach.
"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," he said.
The dismissal came shortly before Arsenal's exit, adding to a frustrating evening in which their possession and chances failed to produce a winning advantage.
Arteta's assessment afterwards focused on that failure to make their opportunities count.
Arsenal put 19 shots off target, with Kai Havertz missing several clear openings as Fleetwood stayed in contention.
Despite the result, the Spaniard insisted he had seen no shortage of effort from his players and rejected the suggestion that their attitude had been responsible for the defeat.
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"First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood for going through to the next round in the manner they've done it," Arteta said.
"A really sad day for us.
"I cannot fault at all the attitude of the players, I haven't seen anybody not doing what is required at this level but we had so much of the ball, had so many chances, so many shots and if you want the margins to be bigger than going to penalties, you have to capitalise on that. We didn't and football is about that.
"It wasn't to do with attitude otherwise I would be here fuming. I'm sad, we're all sad.
"We have a responsibility to represent this badge in the best possible way.
"It was nothing to do with effort, application or determination to go and win it, but we lacked other things to create much bigger margins.
"With what we produced, it should have showed in the scoreline."
Fleetwood boss Matt Lawlor, meanwhile, admitted he struggled to contain his emotions following the remarkable result.
“I was trying to not cry and I didn’t. I’ve managed to hold it,” he said.
“My family, my little boy here, we’re all local.
"I was turning around and people were screaming at me in the crowd and people that I knew and grew up with, that I went to school with or they’ve got a loose connection, and people that jumped out on to the pitch.
“That’s really special and really emotional.
"To do something that special early in my career as well, it’s an emotional night.
"It is emotional. Emotional for the players, emotional for me.”
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