Fleetwood Town v Arsenal: Carabao Cup fourth-round preview at Highbury, Oct 27

Fleetwood Town will host Arsenal at Highbury Stadium in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup 2026-27 on October 27 (BST), with previews forecasting a 4-0 win for the visitors.

Fleetwood arrive as an English fourth-division side managed by Matt Lawlor and will be under pressure after suffering back-to-back defeats in their last two matches; they play the tie at home. Arsenal, identified in the preview as the defending Premier League champions, are travelling to Highbury and Mikel Arteta is expected to rest several senior players without underestimating Fleetwood.

Fleetwood’s attacking focus will centre on Ched Evans, the 37-year-old who has scored three goals in three EFL Cup appearances this season and is singled out as one of the hosts’ main threats. The preview notes the Fishermen must produce an extraordinary performance to progress further in the cup competition.

Arsenal’s recent Carabao Cup performances have featured 16-year-old Max Dowman, who scored a brace in the Gunners’ previous cup outing and was named the Carabao Cup Player of the Round for Round Three; the preview also highlights his ability to operate as an attacking midfielder. Other named Arsenal attacking options in the preview include Noni Madueke and Michael Olise (listed as Eze in the projected XI).

On squad availability the article states Fleetwood will have all squad members ready, while Arsenal will be without William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis because they are injured; Piero Hincapie is also reported as a possible absence due to lack of fitness. The preview reiterates that Arteta may rotate his side for the cup tie.

The projected starting XIs provided in the preview are: Fleetwood — Lynch (GK); Rooney, Haughey, Potter; Neal; McCann, McLean, Helm, Batty; Evans, Coughlan. Arsenal — Kepa (GK); Zubimendi, Salmon, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Guimaraes, Merino; Madueke, Dowman, Eze; Gyokeres.

Broadcasters and viewing information listed in the preview name Sky Sports, Sky Sports+ and ITV for UK coverage, and state the FanCode app and website can be used to watch the games live.

Prediction from the preview: Fleetwood Town 0-4 Arsenal, with Arsenal expected to advance from this fourth-round Carabao Cup tie.