Fleetwood Stun Arsenal on Penalties in Historic Carabao Cup Upset

Fleetwood Town, Arsenal, Conor Haughey, Max Dowman and Mikel Arteta
27 October 2026

League Two Fleetwood Town eliminated defending Premier League champions Arsenal from the Carabao Cup, winning 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Fleetwood reached the competition’s quarter-finals for the first time in club history.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave Fleetwood a 21st-minute lead before Viktor Gyökeres equalised shortly after half-time. Arsenal teenager Max Dowman received a straight red card in the 85th minute following a confrontation with Harrison Neal. Fleetwood converted all five penalties, with Conor Haughey scoring the decisive kick. Arsenal have announced plans to appeal Dowman’s dismissal.

Why It Matters

Fourth-tier Fleetwood have knocked out England's reigning champions to reach a historic quarter-final.