Fleetwood beat Arsenal 5–3 on penalties in historic upset — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Fleetwood Town eliminated the reigning Premier League champions Arsenal from the Carabao Cup 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, becoming the first fourth-tier side to knock out the reigning champions despite being +1500 to advance and 84 pyramid positions below.
- Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimarães’s spot kick before teenage defender Conor Haughey lashed home the decisive penalty, sparking a pitch invasion at Highbury as Fleetwood went perfect from the spot.
- Mikel Arteta introduced captain Martin Ødegaard at halftime with Fleetwood leading 1–0, and Viktor Gyökeres equalized in the 50th minute; Arsenal’s much-changed lineup did not include first-team stars Declan Rice, Gabriel and David Raya.
- Max Dowman was sent off with five minutes left as Arsenal pressed, with Jay Lynch saving from Ben White and Martin Ødegaard before the shootout; Arteta said his side failed to capitalize on its many chances.
- Grimsby Town inspired Fleetwood’s approach after the fourth-tier side beat Manchester United in the previous season’s League Cup, goalkeeper Jay Lynch said; Fleetwood reached the quarterfinals for the first time and secured its first win over a top-flight side.
- Arsenal have now been eliminated in their past two League Cup ties against fourth-tier sides, following Bradford City’s penalty-shootout win in the 2012–13 quarterfinals, after winning their previous eight such matchups.
Why it matters: Fleetwood’s win delivered the 18th-placed League Two side a first League Cup quarterfinal and first victory over a top-flight team, while Arsenal became the first reigning Premier League champions knocked out by fourth-tier opposition. Arsenal’s eight-win run against fourth-tier League Cup opponents also ended.
Ask SkimNews
