Arsenal knocked out of League Cup by fourth-tier Fleetwood Town

What the report says

Arsenal were eliminated from the League Cup by fourth-tier Fleetwood Town after a 5-3 penalty shootout defeat in the fourth round, following a 1-1 draw in normal time on Tuesday in Fleetwood, England. The result was a major upset for Mikel Arteta’s side, who entered the match as Premier League champions and had made nine changes, apparently with an eye on the weekend league trip to Liverpool.

Fleetwood took the lead in the first half through Aaron Loupalo-Bi, after Arsenal’s young defender Marli Salmon was caught out in the buildup. Arsenal equalised after the break when Viktor Gyokeres scored, and the tie remained level through the closing stages despite Arsenal controlling much of the possession. The match also included an eight-minute delay because of an unauthorised drone over the stadium, according to the report.

In the shootout, both teams converted their first three kicks before Arsenal’s Bruno Guimaraes had his effort saved by goalkeeper Jay Lynch. Conor Haughey then scored Fleetwood’s winning penalty. Arsenal also finished with 10 men after 16-year-old Max Dowman was sent off late for violent conduct, adding to a night that Al Jazeera described as one of the club’s most humiliating cup defeats. The win sent Fleetwood, a League Two side, into the next round and marked a landmark result for the club.