Fleetwood eliminate Arsenal from EFL Cup in penalty shootout
The League Two club won 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, becoming the first fourth-tier side to knock out the reigning Premier League champions.
Fleetwood Town knocked Arsenal out of the EFL Cup’s fourth round at Highbury Stadium, winning the penalty shootout 5-3 after the match finished 1-1. Jay Lynch denied Bruno Guimaraes from the spot before Conor Haughey scored the deciding penalty.
According to Squawka, no fourth-tier team had previously eliminated the reigning Premier League champions from the competition. Arsenal’s only other League Cup exit against fourth-tier opposition came against Bradford City in 2012-13, also on penalties.
Mikel Arteta changed nine players from the starting lineup used in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton, with backup goalkeeper Illan Meslier making his club debut. The match was interrupted shortly after kickoff by a drone above the stadium, causing a stoppage lasting more than eight minutes.
Fleetwood took the lead in the 21st minute through Fulham loanee Aaron Loupalo-Bi, who punished an error by Marli Salmon. Arteta brought on Martin Odegaard and Ben White at halftime, and Viktor Gyokeres equalized five minutes after the restart from Ceadach O'Neill’s cross.
Arsenal could not turn their possession into a winning goal. They were reduced to 10 players in the 85th minute when 16-year-old Max Dowman received a straight red card for kicking Harrison Neal.
Arteta said he had no complaints about his players’ attitude or intensity but believed they should have scored more from their chances. Arsenal next face Liverpool in the Premier League.
