Fleetwood Arsenal Carabao Cup Shock: League Two Side Win 5-3 on Penalties

Fleetwood Town knocked Premier League champions Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, winning 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood. The Fleetwood Arsenal Carabao Cup tie finished level after 90 minutes and went straight to a shootout, where the League Two side converted all five of their penalties.

The result is one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s recent history. Fleetwood, who sit 18th in League Two, beat a side sharing the lead at the top of the Premier League, and Arsenal’s night ended with a missed penalty and a late red card.

How the Fleetwood Arsenal Carabao Cup tie turned at Highbury

Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave Fleetwood the lead in the 21st minute, beating Arsenal goalkeeper Illan Meslier with a low finish after getting in behind the visiting defence. Viktor Gyokeres levelled for Arsenal in the 50th minute, scoring five minutes into the second half.

Arsenal pushed for a winner but could not find one, and their task grew harder when 16-year-old Max Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute. Play had earlier been halted for around eight minutes in the opening 10 minutes after a drone flew over the stadium, forcing both teams off the pitch before the match resumed.

For the minute-by-minute account, see the Sky Sports live commentary.

Fleetwood Arsenal Carabao Cup shootout: all five scored, one saved

In the shootout, Fleetwood scored all five of their penalties. Arsenal’s Bruno Guimaraes saw his effort saved by Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch, and Conor Haughey converted the decisive kick to send the home side through.

The win is Fleetwood’s most famous night in the club’s history, according to the club’s own reaction after the match. For Arsenal, it was their first defeat to a fourth-tier side since losing to Bradford City on penalties in the Carabao Cup in 2012.

For a full recap, see the USA Today match report.

Why Arteta’s rotation gamble backfired against Fleetwood

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made nine changes to his side, handing starts to several academy graduates before bringing on Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Bruno Guimaraes and Eberechi Eze after the break. Reports after the match linked the rotation to Arsenal prioritising their Premier League trip to Liverpool on Sunday.

Arteta refused to blame his players’ attitude after the game. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood for going through to the next round in the manner they’ve done it. I cannot fault at all the attitude of the players.”

What the Fleetwood Arsenal Carabao Cup upset means next

Fleetwood go into the quarter-final draw as the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, while Arsenal’s focus returns entirely to the Premier League and Europe. The defeat ends Arsenal’s Carabao Cup run in the fourth round, despite their status as reigning Premier League champions.

For Fleetwood, the financial and profile rewards of a televised cup run now extend into the last eight. For Arsenal, the questions will centre on squad depth and whether nine changes against a League Two side was a risk worth taking.

For other UK news from The Today News, see UK Budget 2026.

Fleetwood Arsenal Carabao Cup — Quick Reference Summary

Fleetwood Arsenal Carabao Cup FAQs

What was the Fleetwood vs Arsenal score?

The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, and Fleetwood Town won the penalty shootout 5-3 at Highbury Stadium on 27 October 2026.

Who scored for Fleetwood and Arsenal?

Aaron Loupalo-Bi scored for Fleetwood in the 21st minute, and Viktor Gyokeres equalised for Arsenal in the 50th minute.

Who missed a penalty for Arsenal?

Bruno Guimaraes had his penalty saved by Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch during the shootout, before Conor Haughey scored Fleetwood’s winning kick.

Why was Max Dowman sent off?

The 16-year-old Arsenal player was sent off in the 85th minute for kicking out at a Fleetwood defender, leaving Arsenal with 10 players for the closing stages.

When did Arsenal last lose to a fourth-tier team?

Arsenal last lost to a fourth-tier side in 2012, when they were beaten by Bradford City on penalties in the Carabao Cup.