Arsenal, current champion of the Premier League and runners-up in the Champions League, were eliminated in the round of 16 of the League Cup by Fleetwood Town, a League Two team, after a penalty shootout that ended 5‑3 in favor of the visitors. The match, played at the Highbury Stadium, ended 1-1 in regulation time, with striker Aaron Loupalo-Bi scoring Arsenal's first goal in the 21st minute and German striker Gábor Gyökeres equalizing in the 50th.
Coach Mikel Arteta started the game with his usual eleven, despite having introduced several rotations after Saturday's victory over Everton. Arsenal showed a solid performance in the first half, but Fleetwood Town managed to put the ball in the net thanks to the quick combination of their striker Loupalo-Bi, who beat the defense and goalkeeper Illan Meslier. In the second half, Arsenal regained their footing when Gyökeres scored with a mid-range shot following a cross from Ceadach O'Neill. Despite the numerical advantage, the London team lost its young defender Max Dowman after a direct expulsion for stepping on an opponent.
With the difference of a single goal and the sending off of Dowman, Arsenal tried to force the result in extra time, but Fleetwood goalkeeper, Jay Linch, remained calm and prevented the Premier team from scoring the decisive goal. When the match went to extra time, Arsenal failed to score and the match went to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Fleetwood Town showed great composure. Players Coughlan, Neal, Davies, Cannon and Haughey converted all five of their shots, while Arsenal goalkeeper Meslier missed two of them. Fleetwood's only mistake was that of Bruno Guimaraes, who failed to hit his shot and left the ball inside Linch's goal. Thus, the fourth category team took the victory and eliminated Arsenal, which will be left out of the League Cup.
The result leaves Arsenal in the Premier League runners-up position, while Fleetwood Town progress to the quarter-finals, an unprecedented feat for a League Two club. Arsenal's next game will be in the Premier, where they will have to focus on maintaining their lead in the table. Meanwhile, Fleetwood Town will celebrate their passage to the next stage, although the road ahead will be difficult against higher-class teams.