Fleetwood beat Arsenal on penalties at Highbury to reach Carabao Cup quarters

Fleetwood Town defeated Arsenal on penalties at Highbury in the Carabao Cup on 28 October 2026, advancing to the quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

Arsenal travelled to the coastal town of Fleetwood for what the newsletter described as a less glamorous cup tie while Fleetwood, a League Two side, came into the match on the back of consecutive defeats by Cheltenham and Exeter; the match was played at Highbury, more than 20 years after Arsenal left a London stadium of the same name to move to the Emirates.

Fleetwood went ahead during the match before Arsenal levelled through a scrambled Viktor Gyökeres effort. The contest was disrupted when 16-year-old Max Dowman was sent off for retaliation after a challenge by Harrison Neal that was variously viewed as potentially career-ending or not a foul; the youngster’s manager conveyed the impression he could “look forward to being sent to bed without any supper and having his screen-time vastly reduced.”

The tie was decided on penalties after normal time ended 1-1, with "yet another Brazilian missed a crucial spot-kick for the Gunners," and Conor Haughey firing past Illan Meslier to complete five successful kicks out of five for the hosts. The young man from Norn Iron, asked about his penalty, replied: “Hit the top corner and run like f**k.” Sky’s pitchside reporter apologised to viewers for the remark.

Fleetwood head coach Matt Lawlor reflected on the result and imminent schedule, saying: “I’ve got no preference whatsoever. We’ve got a big game at home [against Bristol Rovers] on Saturday and I want to win it. I would absolutely love to make an amazing night into an amazing week.” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta must regroup his side as they prepare for a Sunday trip to Liverpool; the defeat came almost five months to the day after the team previously exited a cup competition on penalties following a curiously flat and uninspired display.

Fleetwood will await the quarter-final draw while preparing for Saturday’s home fixture against Bristol Rovers; Arsenal head to Liverpool on Sunday as their focus shifts back to league duties.