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Wednesday, 28 October 2026

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Fleetwood Town eliminates Arsenal on penalties in Carabao Cup upset

League Two side Fleetwood defeated Premier League champions Arsenal 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Archive photo: Fleetwood Town eliminates Arsenal on penalties in Carabao Cup upset
Archive photoPhoto: Evka W · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Fleetwood Town, currently in 18th place in League Two, progressed past Arsenal in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup following a penalty shootout. The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes of normal play, with Aaron Loupalo-Bi and Viktor Gyökeres each scoring once. Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, were unable to find a winner despite being described as the dominant force during the encounter.

The penalty shootout saw Fleetwood prevail 5-3. Goalkeeper Jay Lynch played a crucial role in the shootout, saving from Bruno Guimarães among others, as the fourth-tier club held its nerve in the decisive moments.

The match was briefly interrupted when a drone appeared over the stadium. Referee Michael Salisbury halted play for eight minutes to address the unauthorised aircraft before allowing the game to resume.

Archive photo: Fleetwood Town eliminates Arsenal on penalties in Carabao Cup upset
Archive photoPhoto: John Salmon · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Fleetwood head coach Matt Lawlor acknowledged the magnitude of facing the champions, stating that his team had prepared specific plans around substitutions to manage the game. He noted that Arsenal had shown respect by naming a strong starting eleven, making the fixture a considerable challenge for his side.

The victory marked a significant upset in the competition. Fleetwood's progression eliminated one of England's top sides from the tournament, with the fourth-tier team securing their place in the later stages of the Carabao Cup.

The result saw Arsenal exit the League Cup at the fourth-round stage, ending their participation in the competition for this season.