Fleetwood Town knocked Premier League champions Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, securing a 5-3 victory on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Highbury Stadium. Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimaraes’s spot-kick before Conor Haughey scored the decisive penalty to cap one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history, as reported by the Irish Independent.
Fleetwood Takes Lead Before Arsenal Responds
Eighty-four positions separate the two clubs in the English football pyramid, with Fleetwood sitting 18th in League Two. The hosts seized the lead in the 21st minute when Fulham loanee Aaron Loupalo-Bi held off 17-year-old Marli Salmon to score past debutant goalkeeper Illan Meslier. Mikel Arteta made nine changes following a 2-0 win over Everton, fielding a side that included Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, and Martin Zubimendi, but the visitors struggled for fluidity in the first half.
Odegaard Introduction Shifts Momentum After Half-Time
Arteta introduced Martin Odegaard and Ben White at the interval, altering the match’s dynamic. The visitors equalized in the 50th minute when Ceadach O’Neill crossed from the left and Viktor Gyokeres bundled the ball past Lynch for his first goal of the season. Arsenal piled on pressure, with Havertz and Lewis-Skelly missing chances, while teenager Max Dowman received a straight red card in the 85th minute for kicking out at Harrison Neal.
Penalty Shootout Secures Historic Upset for Cod Army
Lynch made crucial late saves against White and Odegaard to force the match into a penalty shootout. In the shootout, Fleetwood converted all five of their spot-kicks, while Lynch denied Guimaraes. The victory sends the fourth-tier side into the quarter-finals and ends Arsenal’s run in a competition they last won in 1993.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Match
What caused the delay at the start of the match?
Play was halted barely a minute after kick-off when an unauthorized drone hovered over Highbury Stadium, causing an eight-minute delay before referee Michael Salisbury restarted the game.
How many changes did Mikel Arteta make to the Arsenal lineup?
Arteta made nine changes from the side that beat Everton 2-0 on Saturday, keeping only Myles Lewis-Skelly and Viktor Gyokeres in the starting XI.
Which player scored Fleetwood’s opening goal?
Fulham loanee Aaron Loupalo-Bi scored the opening goal for Fleetwood in the 21st minute after collecting a long pass from Mark Helm.