Arsenal were eliminated from the Carabao Cup at the fourth‑round stage after a 1‑1 draw with League Two side Fleetwood Town was decided on penalties, with the lower‑division club winning 5‑3. The match, played at Highbury on Tuesday evening, saw Fleetwood’s Aaron Loupalo‑Bi score first in the 21st minute, before Viktor Győkeres equalised for Arsenal in the 50th. A dramatic turn of events followed when Max Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute, leaving Arsenal with ten men heading into the shoot‑out.
The game began with an unusual interruption when an unidentified drone hovered over the pitch, causing a seven‑minute delay before play resumed. Fleetwood took advantage of the early momentum, with Loupalo‑Bi outmuscling defender Marli Salmon and beating Illan Meslier to give the visitors a 1‑0 lead. Arsenal responded in the second half, with Győkeres capitalising on a pass from Northern Ireland teenager Cedach O’Neill to level the score. Despite several chances for both sides, the match remained tied until the dismissal of Dowman, who was shown a red card for an alleged kick at Harrison Neal. The decision was described by Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe as “really harsh.”
With the game level after 90 minutes, the match went to penalties. Fleetwood’s goalkeeper Jay Lynch made a series of crucial saves, denying Ben White and Martin Ødegaard in stoppage time. Arsenal’s Bruno Guimarães missed the decisive spot‑kick, and Conor Haughey stepped up for Fleetwood, sending the ball past Illan Meslier to secure the win. The shoot‑out saw Fleetwood take an early lead, and Arsenal’s attempts fell short, leaving the Premier League champions out of the competition.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Fleetwood’s performance, saying the club deserved the result and that the loss was “a really sad day for us.” He noted that Arsenal had dominated possession and created numerous chances but failed to convert them into a larger margin. “It wasn’t about attitude,” Arteta said, “but we didn’t capitalize on the opportunities we had.” Arteta also acknowledged the responsibility to represent the club at the highest level and expressed his disappointment at the outcome.
Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor highlighted the unexpected nature of the victory, admitting that the team had not practiced penalties but relied on the players’ confidence and composure. “We didn’t have any meticulous penalty practice,” Lawlor said, “but the lads took care of themselves.” He added that the win was a historic moment for the club, which had risen from non‑league football in 2012 to beating the reigning Premier League champions.
Arsenal will now focus on their Premier League campaign, while Fleetwood prepare for a quarter‑final clash in the Carabao Cup. The match remains one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history, underscoring the unpredictability of cup football.