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Arsenal knocked out of League Cup by fourth-tier Fleetwood

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Neutral summary

Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, were sensationally eliminated from the English League Cup in the round of 16 by Fleetwood Town, a club from the fourth tier of English football. The match, played on 27 October at Highbury Stadium, ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Fleetwood winning the penalty shootout 5-3. This was the first time in 34 years that a fourth-tier side knocked out the reigning English champions in a national cup competition; in 1992, Wrexham beat Arsenal in the FA Cup. The game was halted for several minutes shortly after kick-off when a drone was spotted hovering over the pitch; the referee stopped play and sent both teams to the dressing rooms. The match was also marked by the red card shown to 16-year-old Max Dowman for violent conduct after he kicked out at an opponent, prompting a heated reaction from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as the teenager walked off. Arteta described the day as “a very sad day” and conceded his team had no complaints about the result. The contrast between the clubs is stark: Fleetwood's squad is valued at around €2.75 million, while Arsenal's is worth €1.38 billion. Fleetwood fans celebrated on the pitch with their players after the final whistle. Several outlets have called the result one of the greatest shocks in the 66-year history of the League Cup.

How it was framed

Outlets: 38. Countries: 15. Facts in the shared core: 4.

Publication timeline

  1. · Sky Sports (outlet profile)

    Bizarre scenes! Drone stops play two minutes into Fleetwood-Arsenal tie. During their Carabao Cup clash at Highbury stadium, Fleetwood versus Arsenal was delayed due to a drone over the pitch.

  2. · Evening Standard (outlet profile)

    Why Arsenal's Carabao Cup tie vs Fleetwood Town was stopped for EIGHT minutes. A bizarre start to proceedings at Highbury Stadium in Carabao Cup tie

  3. · Sky Sports (outlet profile)

    'Fleetwood's fantasy moment!' - Arsenal losing to L2 side in Carabao Cup clash. Fleetwood Town's Aaron Loupalo-Bi gives the League Two side a shock lead over Arsenal in their Carabao Cup fourth round clash.

  4. · RMC Sport (outlet profile)

    League Cup: le match d'Arsenal interrompu après l'irruption d'un drone au-dessus de la pelouse. L'arbitre du huitième de finale de League Cup entre Fleetwood et Arsenal a été interrompu quelques minutes ce mardi après l…

  5. · Daily Mail (outlet profile)

    Drone stops play during Arsenal's clash with Fleetwood: Police forced to intervene as Carabao Cup tie is suspended for nearly 10 minutes in bizarre scenes. Arsenal's Carabao Cup tie against Fleetwood Town was halted for…

  6. · Le Parisien (outlet profile)

    « C’est qui le crétin avec son drone ? » : le match entre Arsenal et Fleetwood interrompu par un objet volant

  7. · Sky Sports (outlet profile)

    Arsenal dumped out of Carabao Cup by League Two Fleetwood. Fleetwood Town produced one of the biggest shocks in Carabao Cup history as the League Two team dumped out Premier League champions Arsenal on penalties to reac…

  8. · Sky Sports (outlet profile)

    'Really harsh call' - Dowman SENT OFF against Fleetwood. Max Dowman SENT-OFF as Gunners go down to 10-men.

  9. · ТАСС (outlet profile)

    "Арсенал" проиграл клубу четвертого дивизиона в матче Кубка английской лиги. "Флитвуд" победил в серии пенальти

  10. · Evening Standard (outlet profile)

    Fleetwood Town 1-1 Arsenal (5-3 on penalties): Gunners crash out of Carabao Cup after penalty shootout loss. Max Dowman sent-off as Gunners suffer embarrassing cup exit

  11. · Sky Sports (outlet profile)

    Merson critical of Arteta's reaction to Dowman after red. Paul Merson was critical of Mikel Arteta's reaction to Max Dowman being sent off in Arsenal's loss to Fleetwood Town in the EFL Cup.

  12. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    How Fleetwood pulled off stunning upset to dump Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup

  13. · Clarín (outlet profile)

    Batacazo histórico en Inglaterra: Fleetwood Town eliminó al Arsenal de la Copa de la Liga y firmó una de las sorpresas del siglo. El vigente rey de la Premier League cayó con un humilde equipo que milita en la 4° catego…

  14. · Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)

    Arsenal stunned by League Two Fleetwood as underdogs secure shock shootout win

  15. · Telegraf (outlet profile)

    Senzacija nad senzacijama! Četvrtoligaš izbacio Arsenal iz Liga kupa posle penala. Jedno od najvećih iznenađenja u istoriji engleskog Liga kupa dogodilo se na stadionu Hajberi, gde je Flitvud Taun, ekipa koja zauzima te…

  16. · UOL (outlet profile)

    Bruno Guimarães perde pênalti e Arsenal cai na Copa da Liga contra Fleetwood Town lle/cpb/iga/ma/aam. Bruno Guimarães perde pênalti e Arsenal cai na Copa da Liga contra Fleetwood Town lle/cpb/iga/ma/aam

  17. · Daily Mail (outlet profile)

    Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal - Carabao Cup: League Two side STUN Gunners with victory on penalties. Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage for the lastest updates as Arsenal travel to League Two side Fleetwood Town in the…

  18. · Sky Sports (outlet profile)

    Arsenal OUT on pens to League Two Fleetwood!. Highlights of the Carabao Cup fourth round match between Fleetwood Town and Arsenal.

  19. · GB News (outlet profile)

    League Two Fleetwood Town beat Premier League champions Arsenal in seismic upset and reach EFL Cup quarter-finals. League Two side Fleetwood Town have beaten Premier League champions Arsenal in a seismic upset to reach…

  20. · Beta (outlet profile)

    Fudbaleri Arsenala eliminisani od četvrtoligaša Flitvud tauna u osmini finala Liga kupa. Fudbaleri Arsenala nisu uspeli da se plasiraju u četvrtfinale engleskog Liga kupa, pošto su večeras u osmini finala, na gostujućem…

  21. · Metropoles (outlet profile)

    Bruno Guimarães perde pênalti e Arsenal é eliminado por time da 4ª divisão. O Arsenal foi eliminado da Copa da Liga Inglesa nesta terça-feira (27/10) após perder nos pênaltis para o Fleetwood

  22. · Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)

    Fourth-tier Fleetwood stun Arsenal in League Cup shootout

  23. · Ouest-France (outlet profile)

    Football. Arsenal éliminé aux tirs au but par un club de quatrième division en Coupe de la Ligue !. Le champion d’Angleterre Arsenal n’a pas réussi à passer le quatrième tour de la Coupe de la Ligue. Ce Mardi soir, les…

  24. · Evening Standard (outlet profile)

    Mikel Arteta left with Arsenal selection headache for Liverpool clash after Carabao Cup humiliation. Arsenal’s team was more than good enough to beat League Two opposition

  25. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    Arsenal stunned by fourth-tier Fleetwood. Arsenal are stunned by fourth-tier Fleetwood Town in the round-of-16 in the EFL Cup.

  26. · Nova.rs (outlet profile)

    Nezapamćen šok, Arsenal ispao od četvrtoligaša: Šampon Engleske i vicešampion Evrope pao posle penala. Fudbaleri Arsenala nisu uspeli da se plasiraju u četvrtfinale engleskog Liga kupa, pošto su večeras u osmini finala,…

  27. · RMC Sport (outlet profile)

    League Cup: Arsenal éliminé par un club de D4 pour la grande première d'Illan Meslier dans les buts. En huitième de finale de League Cup, Arsenal a été sorti aux tirs au but par un pensionnaire de D4, Fleetwood (1-1, 5-…

  28. · O Globo (outlet profile)

    Atual campeão inglês, Arsenal é eliminado por time da quarta divisão na Copa; Bruno Guimarães perde pênalti. O atual campeão da Premier League, Arsenal, sofreu com uma zebra na Copa da Liga Inglesa ao perder nos pênalti…

  29. · Sky Sports (outlet profile)

    Arteta explains reaction to Dowman red card amid criticism. Mikel Arteta has explained what he said to Max Dowman as the 16-year-old went down the tunnel after being sent off in Arsenal's shock Carabao Cup exit to Fleet…

  30. · London & UK Street News (outlet profile)

    Fleetwood fans on the pitch after their team beat arsenal on penaltys this evening The biggest upset in elf cup history? 🤔 https://t.co/Kl1mmqC0Uu

Factual core

  • Fleetwood Town defeated Arsenal in a shock Carabao Cup exit.
  • The match was part of the League Cup competition.
  • Arsenal failed to advance past the fourth round of the League Cup.
  • Fleetwood fans invaded the pitch to celebrate with the players after the win.

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In the daily issue: The day in brief — October 28, 2026

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