Arsenal suffered one of the biggest shocks in Carabao Cup history after fourth-tier Fleetwood Town eliminated the Premier League champions 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday, October 27.
The defeat sent Fleetwood into the quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history, completing a remarkable upset against a side competing four divisions above them in English football. The two teams were separated by 84 places in the football league pyramid.
Mikel Arteta’s side had to recover after falling behind in the first half but could not find a winning goal despite dominating possession and creating several chances. Their hopes of progressing were further damaged by the late dismissal of teenager Max Dowman before the tie was decided from the penalty spot.
Fleetwood took the lead in the 21st minute through Aaron Loupalo-Bi, who finished after getting past Arsenal’s young defender Marli Salmon. The goal rewarded the hosts for their attacking initiative and put the visitors under immediate pressure to respond.
Arsenal restored parity five minutes after the restart when Viktor Gyökeres scored in the 50th minute. The equaliser appeared to put the Gunners in control of the contest, but Fleetwood remained organised defensively and refused to allow their more illustrious opponents to turn their dominance into a decisive second goal.
Arteta introduced additional attacking quality as Arsenal searched for a winner, but Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch produced important saves to keep his side in the contest. The League Two side eventually forced the match into a penalty shootout, giving themselves an opportunity to complete an upset that few had anticipated.
The match also featured an unusual interruption shortly after kick-off when a drone was spotted hovering above the stadium, forcing the referee to temporarily halt play for several minutes.
Arsenal’s task became more difficult five minutes from the end of normal time when Dowman was sent off following an altercation involving Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal. The dismissal left the Gunners with less room for error as the contest approached its decisive moments.
In the shootout, Fleetwood converted all five of their penalties to seal the victory. Arsenal’s Bruno Guimarães missed his attempt after Lynch made the crucial save, leaving Conor Haughey with the opportunity to finish the tie. The Fleetwood defender converted to spark celebrations among the home supporters.
The result was particularly disappointing for Arsenal, who had reached the previous season’s Carabao Cup final before losing to Manchester City. Their elimination this time means they will not have another opportunity to win the competition during the 2026-27 campaign.
Arteta described the elimination as a “really sad day” for Arsenal, expressing disappointment at his side’s failure to convert their chances into a winning result. The Gunners had created several opportunities but were unable to find a decisive second goal, allowing Fleetwood to stay in the contest and eventually secure a historic victory on penalties.
For Fleetwood, the victory represents a landmark achievement and another step in a cup run that has now carried them into the last eight. Their disciplined defending and composure during the shootout proved decisive against opponents who entered the tie as overwhelming favourites.
Arsenal must now turn their attention to the Premier League, with a trip to Liverpool scheduled for Sunday, November 1. Arteta will be looking for a response from his players after a result that has abruptly ended one of the club’s domestic cup campaigns.
