Fleetwood vs Arsenal: Gunners set unwanted English football record as Mikel Arteta gamble backfires spectacularly

By Seye Omidiora | 28 Oct 2026 02:42, Last updated: 28 Oct 2026 02:46

Arsenal's EFL Cup run came to a humiliating and historical extremity connected Tuesday evening pursuing a 5-3 punishment shootout defeat to fourth-tier Fleetwood Town.

The reigning Premier League champions travelled to Highbury Stadium for their fourth-round necktie connected the backmost of a regular 2-0 home victory implicit Everton.

However, Mikel Arteta opted to marque 9 sweeping changes to his starting lineup and handed a nine debut to backup goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

That gamble yet backfired successful spectacular manner arsenic the Cod Army became the archetypal League Two broadside to destruct the reigning top-flight rubric holders from the competition.

It besides marks lone the 2nd clip that Arsenal person been knocked retired of the League Cup by a fourth-tier nine aft their infamous shootout nonaccomplishment to Bradford City successful the 2012-13 season.

Arsenal are the archetypal reigning Premier League champions to beryllium knocked retired of the League Cup by a fourth-tier side. It’s lone the 2nd clip Arsenal person been knocked retired of the League Cup by a fourth-tier side, aft Bradford successful 2012/13. Both connected penalties. ? https://t.co/n20wbgG7LW

Dowman sees reddish arsenic Arsenal clang out

The necktie was initially disrupted hardly a infinitesimal aft kickoff erstwhile a drone hovering supra the stadium forced the referee to halt proceedings for implicit 8 minutes.

Once play resumed, the hosts shocked their illustrious visitors successful the 21st infinitesimal erstwhile Fulham loanee Aaron Loupalo-Bi capitalised connected a mistake from young defender Marli Salmon to occurrence a debased decorativeness past Meslier.

Arteta responded by introducing elder stars Martin Odegaard and Ben White astatine the interval, and the changes paid contiguous dividends.

Viktor Gyokeres bundled location an untidy equaliser from a teasing Ceadach O'Neill transverse conscionable 5 minutes into the 2nd fractional to reconstruct parity.

Despite monopolising possession for the remainder of the contest, the Gunners failed to find a cutting edge, and their task was made harder erstwhile 16-year-old prodigy Max Dowman was shown a consecutive reddish paper for kicking retired astatine Harrison Neal successful the 85th minute.

The 1-1 gully sent the necktie consecutive to penalties, where Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimaraes's spot footwear earlier Conor Haughey converted the decisive punishment to seal a monumental triumph for Matt Lawlor's side.

How did Arteta respond aft Fleetwood defeat?

This chastening decision volition rise superior questions astir the extent of Arteta's squad arsenic they look to support their Premier League crown.

"I person thing to responsibility the players for their cognition and strength passim the game, with 11 and with 10, but erstwhile you are playing successful that superior way, you person to springiness thing to the opponent," said the Arsenal manager.

"When we make the measurement of shots and chances we did, you person to people three, 4 oregon five. You capitalise connected it. If you don’t, determination are nary margins, and that’s the reality.

"Then you person to hold and get done the circular connected penalties, and we didn’t bash that."

The North London nine person present mislaid consecutive punishment shootouts pursuing their heartbreak against Paris Saint-Germain successful past season's Champions League last successful Budapest.

The Gunners volition question an contiguous effect erstwhile they instrumentality to Premier League enactment this play against Liverpool.