Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal was the shock of the Carabao Cup fourth round on Tuesday night. League Two Fleetwood Town led through Aaron Loupalo-Bi, Viktor Gyokeres levelled early in the second half, and Fleetwood then won the penalty shootout 5-3 after Arsenal finished with ten men. Mikel Arteta’s side are out, and Fleetwood are in the quarter-final draw.
It was a night that will live long in the memory at Highbury Stadium. Arsenal had most of the ball, made plenty of chances and still could not find a winner, and the home side held their nerve from the spot. Here is how it happened and what it means.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal: Key Facts
- Competition: Carabao Cup, fourth round
- Venue: Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood
- Score: Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal (Fleetwood won 5-3 on penalties)
- Fleetwood goal: Aaron Loupalo-Bi, 21 minutes
- Arsenal goal: Viktor Gyokeres, early second half
- Red card: Max Dowman (Arsenal), late in normal time
- Shootout: Fleetwood scored all five; Bruno Guimaraes had Arsenal’s miss saved
How the Match Unfolded
The game started in strange fashion. Play was stopped for several minutes early on when a drone was spotted hovering above the ground before the game could resume.
Once it settled, Arsenal took control of possession as expected, but Fleetwood were organised and dangerous on the break. On 21 minutes the home side struck. Loupalo-Bi got the better of Marli Salmon in a physical duel and poked the ball past Illan Meslier, who was starting in goal for Arsenal.
Arteta’s side responded after the interval. Gyokeres was on hand at the back post to bundle in the equaliser early in the second half, and for long spells it felt like a matter of time before Arsenal found a second. It never came. Kai Havertz missed a headed chance and lifted a rebound over the bar, Myles Lewis-Skelly also went close, and Martin Odegaard and Ben White were sent on to add quality. Fleetwood defended every cross and blocked every shot they could reach.
Dowman red card changes the mood
Arsenal’s evening got worse late in normal time when teenage forward Max Dowman was shown a straight red card after an off-the-ball clash with a Fleetwood player. Television pundits described the decision as harsh, but it left Arsenal a man short going into stoppage time, and Fleetwood survived some late pressure to keep the score level and force penalties.
The Penalty Shootout
Arsenal scored three of their four kicks, with Odegaard, Havertz and Gyokeres all converting. Bruno Guimaraes was the man who missed, his effort saved by the Fleetwood goalkeeper. Fleetwood, meanwhile, were perfect from the spot. They scored all five of their penalties, and the final kick sent the home crowd onto their feet and Arsenal out of the competition.
According to reports in England, Fleetwood’s manager admitted afterwards that his players had not practised penalties before the game, which only adds to the story of the night.
What Arteta Said
Arteta was reported to have congratulated Fleetwood after the game. He made the point that his players’ attitude and effort were not the problem, and that Arsenal had enough of the ball and enough chances to win but failed to take them. That is a fair summary of a match in which Arsenal dominated the statistics but lost the tie.
What It Means for Arsenal
For Arsenal, this is an embarrassing exit, but the wider season is still in good shape. Their Premier League challenge and Champions League campaign remain the priority, and Arteta used the cup to give minutes to squad players and younger names. The bigger concern will be the lack of a cutting edge without the first-choice attack, and the fact that Dowman will now serve a suspension.
Arsenal fans will want a quick response in the league this weekend. Bettors should be careful not to overreact to a cup result from a heavily rotated side. If you want to look back at how we saw the game beforehand, read our Fleetwood vs Arsenal prediction.
Bradford Also Through
Fleetwood were not the only lower-league side celebrating on Tuesday. Bradford City beat Peterborough United 2-0 at Valley Parade, with Macauley Gillesphey and Adam Phillips scoring to send the Bantams into the quarter-finals.
The remaining fourth-round ties are played on Wednesday and Thursday. Manchester City host Brighton, Liverpool welcome Chelsea, and Everton face Newcastle United on Thursday night. You can find all of our previews on the JetBet predictions page, including our Liverpool vs Chelsea prediction. The official fixture list is on the EFL website.
FAQ
What was the Fleetwood vs Arsenal score?
The match finished Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal after 90 minutes. Fleetwood won the penalty shootout 5-3 to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Who scored for Arsenal against Fleetwood?
Viktor Gyokeres scored Arsenal’s equaliser early in the second half. Aaron Loupalo-Bi had given Fleetwood the lead on 21 minutes.
Why was Max Dowman sent off?
Dowman was shown a straight red card late in normal time after an off-the-ball incident with a Fleetwood player. Pundits watching the game called the decision harsh.
Who missed Arsenal’s penalty against Fleetwood?
Bruno Guimaraes had Arsenal’s penalty saved. Fleetwood scored all five of their kicks to win 5-3.
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