Arsenal have suffered a shock Carabao Cup exit after League Two side Fleetwood Town defeated the Gunners 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the Highbury Stadium on Tuesday.
Key Highlights
- League Two side Fleetwood Town knock Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup.
- Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave Fleetwood a 21st-minute lead before Viktor Gyokeres equalised.
- Goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimaraes’ penalty in the shootout.
- Fleetwood won 5-3 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals.
- Arsenal teenager Max Dowman was sent off after a late confrontation.
Fleetwood took the lead in the 21st minute through Aaron Loupalo-Bi, giving the hosts an early advantage against their Premier League opponents and raising hopes of a memorable upset.
Arsenal responded after the break, with Viktor Gyokeres finding the net to restore parity and keep the visitors’ hopes of progressing alive.
Despite pushing for a decisive goal, the Gunners were unable to break down Fleetwood’s resistance, forcing the fourth-round encounter into a penalty shootout. Fleetwood had earned the home tie against Arsenal by beating Sheffield United in the third round.
How The Shootout Unfolded
Both sides converted their opening three penalties, with Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Gyokeres scoring for Arsenal, while Harrison Neal, Ronan Coughlan and Will Davies kept Fleetwood on level terms.
The contest turned in Fleetwood’s favour when goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimaraes’ penalty after Andy Cannon had converted for the home side.
Conor Haughey subsequently scored Fleetwood’s fifth spot-kick to seal a 5-3 shootout victory, triggering celebrations among the home supporters and sending the lower-league club into the quarter-finals.
Arsenal’s disappointing night was compounded by the dismissal of teenage midfielder Max Dowman following a late confrontation with Neal.
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What Next For Arsenal
The defeat represents a significant setback for Arsenal, who must now turn their attention to their upcoming fixtures as they seek to recover from the cup disappointment.
The Gunners are scheduled to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, November 1, before travelling to take on Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League.
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