Arsenal have been eliminated from the Carabao Cup after suffering a stunning penalty shootout defeat to fourth-tier Fleetwood Town, who produced one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history.
The Premier League champions were beaten 5-3 on penalties after the fourth-round encounter ended 1-1 after regulation time at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The result sent Fleetwood into the quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history.
Fleetwood took a surprising lead in the 21st minute through Aaron Loupalo-Bi, who used his strength to get past Arsenal’s young defender Marli Salmon before finishing past goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
The hosts defended resolutely against Arsenal’s attacking pressure, frustrating Mikel Arteta’s side despite the visitors enjoying much of the possession and creating several opportunities.
Arsenal eventually drew level five minutes into the second half when Viktor Gyökeres found the net from close range. The goal offered the visitors an opportunity to take control, but they failed to convert their subsequent chances into a decisive winner.
The Gunners’ hopes suffered another setback late in the match when 16-year-old Max Dowman was sent off following an altercation with Fleetwood’s Harrison Neal. Arsenal were forced to finish the contest with 10 men, increasing the pressure as the match moved towards penalties.
Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch emerged as one of the heroes of the night, saving Bruno Guimarães’ spot-kick during the shootout. The home side converted all five of their penalties, with Conor Haughey scoring the decisive kick to seal the historic victory.
The defeat represents a major disappointment for Arsenal, who entered the contest in strong form and were expected to overcome their lower-league opponents. Arteta had made several changes to his starting line-up ahead of the club’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Liverpool.
Reacting to the outcome, Arteta described the result as a “very sad day” for his team and congratulated Fleetwood on their achievement. He also acknowledged that conceding the opening goal gave the hosts momentum, while Arsenal’s failure to take their chances proved costly.
For Fleetwood, the victory is a landmark achievement against opponents from 84 places above them in the English football league pyramid. The League Two side will now await their quarter-final opponents, while Arsenal must turn their attention back to domestic league action.
