Fleetwood Town stunned Arsenal in a dramatic Carabao Cup fourth‑round tie, with 19‑year‑old defender Conor Haughey scoring the decisive penalty to seal a 5‑3 shootout victory after a 1‑1 draw. The win, which saw the League Two club eliminate the Premier League champions and last season’s finalists, sparked a pitch invasion at Highbury and will be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history.
The match began with Fleetwood taking an early lead when Fulham loanee Aaron Loupalo‑Bi found the net in the 21st minute. Arsenal responded with a goal from Viktor Gyökeres after the introduction of Martin Ødegaard in the second half, and the game remained tied until the 85th minute, when Arsenal’s Max Dowman was sent off for a reckless challenge. Fleetwood held on to the advantage, and when the match went to penalties, Haughey stepped up to take the first spot kick for his team. Despite admitting that he had not practiced penalties before the match, the Northern Ireland under‑21 international described his confidence as a product of his Belfast upbringing, where “if you’re not confident you get eaten up.” He added that the team’s collective trust and daily training had prepared them for the moment.
Fleetwood’s manager, Matt Lawlor, praised his players’ mental strength and the club’s achievement. “If you would have told me that would happen, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Lawlor said. “It’s a mental thing. We didn’t have the same resources or infrastructure as Arsenal, but we dug in and played with pride.” Lawlor also highlighted the importance of the team’s unity, noting that they had “trained with each other every day” and knew exactly where to place their shots.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta congratulated the visitors but explained why the champions had failed to progress. “We didn’t score enough in the match, and when you’re that superior you have to capitalize on every opportunity,” Arteta said. He also mentioned that he had not spoken to Dowman about his dismissal, but that the team had been clear about the emotional aspects of the game. Arteta stressed that the margin for error was slim in such a high‑stakes match and that the penalty shootout was the only way to decide the outcome.
With the win, Fleetwood will face the winner of the other fourth‑round match between Bradford City and Peterborough United in the quarter‑finals. The remaining fixtures will be decided on Wednesday and Thursday, setting the stage for a dramatic continuation of the Carabao Cup. The triumph over Arsenal will undoubtedly boost Fleetwood’s confidence as they look to advance further in the competition.