Arsenal suffered one of the biggest shocks of their Carabao Cup campaign after League Two side Fleetwood Town knocked the Premier League champions out 5-3 on penalties following a bizarre 1-1 draw.
The night began unusually when a drone flying above Highbury Stadium forced play to stop for more than eight minutes shortly after kick-off. Fleetwood took advantage of the disruption, with Aaron Loupalo-Bi putting the hosts ahead in the 21st minute after beating young Arsenal defender Marli Salmon.
Viktor Gyokeres equalised five minutes into the second half, but Arsenal struggled to find a winner despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Their task became even harder when teenage prospect Max Dowman was sent off late in the match after an altercation with Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal.
Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch emerged as the hero, making crucial saves before the shootout. Bruno Guimaraes missed Arsenal’s decisive penalty, allowing Conor Haughey to score and send Fleetwood into the quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history.
For Arsenal, it was a night to forget, while Fleetwood celebrated a historic giant-killing against one of English football’s biggest clubs.
