Where does Fleetwood beating Arsenal rank in biggest cup upsets?

What the report says

BBC Sport used Fleetwood Town’s surprise Carabao Cup win over Arsenal as a springboard to revisit major cup shocks in English football. The match, played at Fleetwood’s Highbury Stadium, saw the League Two side draw 1-1 before winning 5-3 on penalties, a result the publisher described as one of the competition’s biggest upsets. Fleetwood led through Aaron Loupalo-Bi, Arsenal equalised after the break through Viktor Gyokeres, and the shootout turned when Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved a spot kick before Conor Haughey scored the decisive penalty.

The article then set Fleetwood’s victory alongside a selection of historic FA Cup and League Cup surprises. Among the examples BBC Sport highlighted were Grimsby Town beating Manchester United on penalties in 2025, Plymouth Argyle defeating Liverpool in the FA Cup the same year, Bradford City’s penalty win over Arsenal in 2012, and Northampton Town eliminating Liverpool on penalties in 2010. It also referenced older landmark shocks such as Oldham Athletic’s win over Liverpool, Wrexham’s victory over Arsenal, Sutton United beating Coventry City, Hereford United’s famous triumph over Newcastle United, and York City’s League Cup win at Manchester United.

The piece is framed as a discussion of where Fleetwood’s result ranks among the biggest shocks rather than a definitive statistical list. It emphasizes how cup competitions can produce unexpected outcomes when lower-division or non-league clubs eliminate far stronger opponents. BBC Sport noted the selection was not exhaustive and invited readers to compare and debate the upsets.