Arsenal’s decision to rest key players ahead of their Premier League clash with Liverpool backfired as the champions were knocked out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Fleetwood on penalties.
Fleetwood secured a remarkable 5-3 shoot-out victory after holding Mikel Arteta’s side to a 1-1 draw in their fourth-round tie, delivering one of the biggest shocks in the competition.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi put Fleetwood ahead in the first half before Viktor Gyökeres equalised after the break. Arsenal’s Bruno Guimarães then missed his penalty in the shoot-out, while Conor Haughey converted the decisive kick to send the home side through.
Arsenal’s hopes suffered another setback when 16-year-old Max Dowman was sent off for violent conduct in the closing stages.
Arteta made nine changes to his side, with Sunday’s trip to Liverpool seemingly a factor in his team selection. However, Arsenal failed to make their dominance count against opponents sitting 84 places below them in the English football league system.
The Gunners had several opportunities to settle the tie in normal time but could not find a winner, leaving them vulnerable to the shoot-out.
Arteta described the defeat as a painful moment for his team, while congratulating Fleetwood on their achievement.
“It’s a very sad day,” the Arsenal manager said, adding that his players had shown commitment despite the setback.
He said Arsenal had enjoyed possession and created numerous chances but failed to take advantage of them, allowing the contest to reach penalties.
Arteta also declined to make an immediate judgement on Dowman’s dismissal, saying he wanted to review the incident before assessing it. He acknowledged that the issue had been discussed with the youngster before the match.
For Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor, the victory was a landmark moment for the club. He said his side had focused on denying Arsenal space and attacking on the counter rather than trying to outplay the Premier League champions.
“I just can’t believe it,” Lawlor said, describing the result as the biggest night in the club’s history in terms of the opposition.
Fleetwood’s players and supporters celebrated wildly after Haughey’s winning penalty, with Lawlor visibly emotional as the club secured a place in the next round.
The defeat halted Arsenal’s recent momentum after their 2-0 victory over Everton had taken them level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City. Arteta’s side had won 11 of their previous 13 matches before the shock exit.
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