Fleetwood Town produced the biggest shock in Carabao Cup history as they defeated Premier League champions Arsenal in a penalty shoot-out to reach the quarter-finals.
The Cod Army, who lie 18th in League Two and some 84 places below the Gunners in the English football pyramid, converted all five of their penalties in the shoot-out, with goalkeeper Jay Lynch saving from Bruno Guimaraes and Conor Haughey scoring the winning kick after a 1-1 draw.
Fleetwood had dared to dream when they took a stunning lead in the 21st minute as Aaron Loupalo-Bi fired low into the net to give the lowest-ranked team in the competition a first-half advantage against a much-changed Arsenal side who struggled to find any sharpness.
A frustrated Mikel Arteta responded by sending on Martin Odegaard at half-time and Viktor Gyokeres levelled soon after, but they could not get a winner. Fleetwood survived constant pressure, with goalkeeper Lynch making a brilliant save to deny Ben White and get the minnows through to penalties.
Arsenal’s frustration boiled over when 16-year-old wonderkid Max Dowman was sent off for kicking out an opponent, having been on the receiving end of a heavy challenge before then.
Follow updates from Fleetwood v Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, below
Read MoreArsenal stunned by Fleetwood as Carabao Cup underdogs secure shock shootout win
Mikel Arteta remains tight-lipped on Max Dowman reaction after 16-year-old’s red card
Carabao Cup draw: Date, time, ball numbers and how to watch as teams learn quarter-final fate
Fleetwood v Arsenal LIVE: Latest Carabao Cup updates
- Fleetwood beat Arsenal on penalties in greatest Carabao Cup shock in history
- Fleetwood score all five of their penalties with Bruno Guimaraes missing for Arsenal
- There are 84 places between Premier League champions and League Two strugglers
- 85' RED CARD! Max Dowman, 16, for kicking out at opponent [FLE 1-1 ARS]
- 53' GOAL! Viktor Gyokeres flicks in after Martin Odegaard brought on at HT [FLE 1-1 ARS]
- 21' GOAL! Aaron Loupalo-Bi fires League Two side into stunning lead [FLE 1-0 ARS]
- Early stages of Carabao Cup fourth-round tie delayed by unauthorised drone
Mikel Arteta 'sad' following Arsenal's defeat to Fleetwood Town
23:17 , Jamie BraidwoodAside from the Max Dowman red card, Mikel Arteta said he had “zero” problem with his team’s attitude.
“Otherwise I would be here absolutely fuming,” he said. “I'm sad, I think we are all sad. We have a massive responsibility to carry this badge in the best possible way.
“It had nothing to do with effort or application or determination to win it, but we lack other things to, to create a much bigger margin than today, with what we produce, they really should have been shown in the scoreline."
He also praised Fleetwood, and said: “First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood for going through to the next round in the manner they've done it.
"A really sad day for us. I cannot fault at all the attitude of the players, I haven't seen anybody not doing what is required at this level but we had so much of the ball, had so many chances, so man shots and if you want the margins to be bigger than going to penalties, you have to capitalise on that.”
Mikel Arteta remains tight-lipped on Max Dowman reaction after 16-year-old’s red card
23:06 , Jamie BraidwoodArsenal manager Mikel Arteta refused to provide further explanation to his angry reaction to Max Dowman’s red card in the Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town.
Arteta appeared to have harsh words for Dowman, the 16-year-old Arsenal prodigy, following the first red card of his senior career, which came as the Gunners lost on penalties.
The incident took place on the opposite side of the pitch to Arteta’s dugout but the manager appeared to have sharp words for Dowman as he left the pitch.
And Arteta said he still had to watch the incident back before commenting on it, but it was notable that he had no comforting words of support for the forward.
“It's difficult to see on the cameras like that so I'd prefer to watch it back properly so I can assess the situation,” he told Sky Sports.
Asked if the 16-year-old can learn from the red card because of his young age, Arteta replied: “Yeah, we all learn from everything, yeah.”
More penalty heartbreak for Arsenal
22:52 , Jamie Braidwood❌ Champions League final against PSG
❌ Carabao Cup fourth round against Fleetwood
Fleetwood boss Matt Lawlor: 'Biggest night in the club's history!'
22:46 , Jamie BraidwoodA wonderful interview from Matt Lawlor, the Fleetwood manager. He admits his side did not practice penalties this week, as they didn’t think they would make it that far against the Premier League champions. He admits he didn’t realise the tie went straight to penalties and there was no extra time!
He told Sky Sports: "I couldn't believe it. The biggest night in the club's history in terms of opposition coming to town and we've managed to beat the champions somehow.
"We're not egotistical enough to think we're going to play the best team in the country and outplay them, so we had to ride our luck, deny space, deny options for them and we did that really well for the majority of the game.”
Who could Fleetwood Town play next after knocking out Arsenal?
22:38 , Jamie BraidwoodWho do Fleetwood want next in the quarter-finals? They could get a Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea... or could they get Bradford, who reached the last eight by beating Peterborough tonight!
Carabao Cup fixtures
Tuesday 27 October
Bradford City 2-0 Peterborough United
Fleetwood Town 1-1 Arsenal (Fleetwood won 5-3 on pens)
Wednesday 28 October
Manchester City vs Brighton and Hove Albion
Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Sunderland vs Brentford
Liverpool vs Chelsea
Thursday 29 October
Everton vs Newcastle
What will Mikel Arteta say about defeat and Max Dowman's red card?
22:32 , Jamie BraidwoodSo much reaction to come: particularly from Mikel Arteta. He said Arsenal’s standards had to be “through the roof” against Fleetwood but they were on the floor at Highbury. And what will be say about Max Dowman’s red card? Arteta looked furious with the 16-year-old as he made his way off the pitch.
Fleetwood hero Jay Lynch: 'My voice has gone!'
22:24 , Jamie BraidwoodFleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch, who was man of the match and saved Bruno Guimaraes’ penalty in the shoot-out, tells Sky Sports that his side were inspired by Grimsby knocking Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup last season.
"My voice has gone from organising the defence, but the whole team throughout the game were magnificent.
"To beat the English champions on penalties, credit to everyone one of these lads.
"We looked at Grimsby beating Man Utd last year. We compared it even though these are the champions. We thought 'if we lay it all out there, let's see what happens'."
Is this the Carabao Cup's biggest ever shocks?
22:22 , Jamie BraidwoodGrimsby beating Manchester United? Northampton beating Liverpool at Anfield? Bradford knocking out Arsenal and reaching Wembley?
But this Arsenal are the champions and were in the Champions League final last season. They were in the Carabao Cup final last season! It’s staggering!
Fleetwood celebrate the club's greatest night
22:19 , Jamie BraidwoodGoalkeeper Jay Lynch has lost his voice. Match-winner Conor Haughey is swearing on Sky Sports and is already looking forward to the party already. What a night awaits for them on the Fylde peninsula!
Fleetwood Town knock Arsenal out of Carabao Cup
22:15 , Jamie BraidwoodPerhaps the biggest shock in League Cup history? The Fleetwood fans are on the pitch and they can barely believe this moment.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal (Fleetwood win 5-3 on pens!)
22:10 , Jamie BraidwoodWOW! FLEETWOOD TOWN HAVE KNOCKED OUT THE CHAMPIONS!
84 PLACES BETWEEN THEM! IT’S THE BIGGEST NIGHT IN THEIR HISTORY!
UNBELIEVABLE!
PENALTIES! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
22:09 , Jamie BraidwoodConor Haughey does it! Nerves of steel! FLEETWOOD BEAT ARSENAL!
Fleetwood: 🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢
Arsenal: 🟢🟢🟢❌
PENALTIES! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
22:08 , Jamie BraidwoodNow there’s pressure. If Bruno Guimaraes misses this, Fleetwood can win it.
AND HE MISSES! LYNCH SAVES!
FLEETWOOD CAN WIN IT NOW
Fleetwood: 🟢🟢🟢🟢
Arsenal: 🟢🟢🟢❌
PENALTIES! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
22:08 , Jamie BraidwoodCannon scores against the Gunners! Andy Cannon, that is.
Fleetwood: 🟢🟢🟢🟢
Arsenal: 🟢🟢🟢
PENALTIES! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
22:07 , Jamie BraidwoodGyokeres scored his first goal of the season earlier. And he finds the corner now!
Fleetwood: 🟢🟢🟢
Arsenal: 🟢🟢🟢
PENALTIES! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
22:06 , Jamie BraidwoodThe wind is blowing now and Davies steadies himself, and the ball. Then he fires it into the corner!
Fleetwood: 🟢🟢🟢
Arsenal: 🟢🟢
PENALTIES! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
22:05 , Jamie BraidwoodHavertz for Arsenal... he missed chances tonight, but he finds the corner. Keeper sent the wrong way.
Fleetwood: 🟢🟢
Arsenal: 🟢🟢
PENALTIES! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
22:05 , Jamie BraidwoodNeal has been a rock for Fleetwood at the back. He finds the top corner!
Fleetwood: 🟢🟢
Arsenal: 🟢
PENALTIES! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
22:04 , Jamie BraidwoodOdegaard for Arsenal. The captain finds the corner! Great penalty. Lynch went the right way.
Fleetwood: 🟢
Arsenal: 🟢
PENALTIES! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
22:03 , Jamie BraidwoodFleetwood up first! Coughlan.... scores!
Fleetwood: 🟢
Arsenal:
PENALTIES! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
22:02 , Jamie BraidwoodHere we go! Arsenal’s last penalty shoot-out was against PSG in the Champions League final. Now it’s against Fleetwood Town.
FULL TIME! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:58 , Jamie Braidwood90+5 mins: Arsenal clear at the front post and Fleetwood survive the final few seconds.
WE’RE GOING TO PENALTIES!
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:57 , Jamie Braidwood90+3 mins: Lynch comes off his line to collect the cross from Guimaraes. Fleetwood are almost there... and Ben White now concedes the corner!
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:55 , Jamie Braidwood90+2 mins: Eze crosses for Havertz, but the Champions League final goalscorer heads wide !
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:54 , Jamie Braidwood90+1 mins: Now a fierce strike from Odegaard, but Lynch parries over the bar! There was a penalty shout in there too, and now another as Eze’s cross is blocked!
Chaotic ending!
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:53 , Jamie Braidwood90 mins: WHAT A SAVE! Ben White thinks he’s won it as he arrives at the back post, but his shot is beaten off the line by the goalkeeper Lynch!
Into five minutes added on!
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:52 , Jamie Braidwood89 mins: It’s hard to know what Mikel Arteta was saying to Max Dowman when he made his way off the pitch, but he did not look happy with him.
What a fascinating sub-plot.
And this could still go to penalties.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:48 , Jamie Braidwood85 mins: OH NOW! Dowman loses his head and kicks out at a Fleetwood player!
DOWMAN IS SENT OFF!
Dowman has on the receiving end of a late challenge, but then kicks out at the Fleetwood player.
The 16-year-old is sent off for his reaction. Martin Odegaard tried to plead his defence, but he is gone.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:47 , Jamie Braidwood84 mins: Can Dowman rescue Arsenal? He skips away from the challenge to get into the box but then over runs it and Bennett can thump clear. The Fleetwood defence have been brilliant.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:45 , Jamie Braidwood83 mins: Chaos in the Arsenal box! The ball is bouncing around and won’t sit down. Meslier is required to come off his line and block behind for a corner.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:45 , Jamie Braidwood82 mins: Two more changes for Arsenal: Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa are on for Zubimendi and Lewis-Skelly.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:43 , Jamie Braidwood80 mins: Into the final 10, plus stoppages! And it’s still anyone’s game... I think the Fleetwood fans are just realising how close they could be to the biggest result in their history, if their defence hangs on.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:41 , Jamie Braidwood78 mins: Eze drops a classy shoulder and skips past his man. He fires the ball into the box, but it evades everyone!
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:40 , Jamie Braidwood77 mins: Arsenal should get their winner... but two sloppy moments cost them. Lewis-Skelly’s pass to Zubimendi on the edge of the box is wayward, while White is then caught offside when he was looking along the line.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:36 , Jamie Braidwood74 mins: Fleetwood’s Jake Batty wipes out Dowman after a dribble and skip from the Arsenal winger. Oi, he’s 16.
Yellow card.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:35 , Jamie Braidwood72 mins: Dowman shoots following a short corner but it’s catching practice for Lynch, the Fleetwood goalkeeper.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:34 , Jamie Braidwood70 mins: There’s no extra time in the Carabao Cup these days, so Fleetwood are 20-25 minutes away from a penalty shoot-out, if they manage to keep Arsenal out.
The Gunners have Gyokeres, Havertz, Eze and Odegaard on the pitch. Arteta wants this done.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:32 , Jamie Braidwood69 mins: Fleetwood’s Shaun Rooney and Odegaard get into a bit of a tiff - but Fleetwood have a a long throw and the chance to get it into the mixer. They don’t manage, though. Arsenal clear.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:29 , Jamie Braidwood66 mins: Eberechi Eze is on for Arsenal, he takes the place of Ceadach O’Neill, whose debut lasts a little over an hour. His cross set up the equaliser from Gyokeres.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:28 , Jamie Braidwood65 mins: How has that stayed out, again! Odegaard slides another clever ball through to Havertz, who can’t find a man on the pull-back. The Arsenal players were queuing up but Fleetwood scramble away.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:22 , Jamie Braidwood59 mins: Odegaard is the creator again with a stunning chip over the defence. Havertz runs onto it but volleys into the side-netting. A chance.
Odegaard is now strutting his stuff out there. The second Arsenal goal feels like it’s coming.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:19 , Jamie Braidwood56 mins: The Arsenal fans sound a bit more relaxed now with Odegaard injecting some sharpness into their play.
“We forgot that you were here,” the Fleetwood fans reply.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:18 , Jamie Braidwood55 mins: OFF THE BAR! How has that stayed out? Arsenal look dangerous now. Odegaard switches to Dowman and he looks threatening cutting inside. It breaks to Havertz and his fierce shot is somehow tipped onto the bar by Lynch.
Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal
21:16 , Jamie Braidwood54 mins: It wasn’t the prettiest but Arsenal do not care.
Viktor Gyökeres gets his first goal of the season and Arsenal are level against Fleetwood! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/LfZcIbAfCX
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 27, 2026
GOAL! Fleetwood 1-1 Arsenal (GYOKERES 50')
21:12 , Jamie BraidwoodGyokeres scrambles in! Arsenal are level again.
O’Neill put the ball into the box. Gyokeres was wrestling with Potter and able to flick a foot at the loose ball and it bobbles into the net.
His first of the season.
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
21:12 , Jamie Braidwood48 mins: Fleetwood have not put a foot wrong defensively so far, but they’re going to face constant pressure in this second half – and extra quality too with Odegaard on the pitch.
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
21:09 , Jamie Braidwood46 mins: That means there’s a reshuffle from Arteta. Lewis-Skelly has gone to left-back and it’s Odegaard and Havertz behind Gyokeres now.
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
21:08 , Jamie Braidwood45 mins: The Gunners are sending on the big guns!
Captain Martin Odegaard is on, as is Ben White.
Jurrien Timber is off and Marli Salmon makes way, too.
HALF TIME! Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
21:06 , Jamie BraidwoodFleetwood Town are 84 places below Arsenal in the English football pyramid.
This would be the biggest result in their history – by far.
Can they hold on to their lead in the second half?
It’s coming up next.
HALF TIME! Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
21:03 , Jamie BraidwoodIt was a strange start to the game, to say the least.
The momentous match for the League Two minnows at Highbury had only just kicked off when the players spotted the drone flying in the sky above the stadium.
The drone was not recognised by home club Fleetwood, with referee Michael Salisbury needing to stop play to discuss the situation with the ground safety officer and both managers.
Eventually, referee Salisbury took the decision to call all 22 players off the pitch in the eighth minute, although the drone then appeared to fly away fro the pitch.
The police were also called, while there was confusion and anger in the stands, before it was reported that the operator of the drone had been identified and dealt with.
The match resumed in the 11th minute. Around 10 minutes later, Aaron Loupalo-Bi fired Fleetwood in front against the Premier League champions.
HALF TIME! Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:59 , Jamie BraidwoodWhat a moment for Fleetwood!
And for on-loan striker Aaron Loupalo-Bi, the Fulham player who took his chance by firing past debutant goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
A fourth goal of the season for him.
FLEETWOOD TAKE THE LEAD! 😱
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 27, 2026
Loupalo-Bi puts League Two side Fleetwood ahead against Arsenal 💥 pic.twitter.com/zTFEkCp0oL
HALF TIME! Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:53 , Jamie BraidwoodAnd Fleetwood Town make it into half-time in front! Aaron Loupalo-Bi’s finish has the home fans dreaming at Highbury. They lead the Premier League champions.
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:52 , Jamie Braidwood50+2 mins: Another chance for Timber! O’Neill swings it into the middle and Timber arrives at the back post. Batty makes the block to divert his volley behind.
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:51 , Jamie Braidwood45+5 mins: Chance for Arsenal. Dowman’s free-kick is headed wide by Timber, who bites his shirt in frustration.
Fleetwood are almost there, for the first half at least.
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:49 , Jamie Braidwood45+3 mins: Cheers from the Cod Army faithfull as Gyokeres runs the ball out of play under pressure from the chasing Batty.
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:46 , Jamie Braidwood45 mins: Seven minutes of added time, which is good news for Fleetwood. The drone stoppage was longer than seven!
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:41 , Jamie Braidwood40 mins: That was brilliant defending from Bennett, steering a menacing cross from Dowman behind. Dowman then produces another dangerous ball in but Havertz heads over.
Arsenal are ramping up the pressure, and there’s still a lot of time to be played in the first half due to the drone stoppage earlier.
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:39 , Jamie Braidwood38 mins: It’s been 78 per cent Arsenal possession since the Fleetwood goal. One-way traffic, sure, but no breakthrough yet.
Havertz does his best to try and spin and make room on the edge of the box, but is crowded out.
Then Dowman fires a ball across goal - the defender Rhys Bennett scrambles away!
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:36 , Jamie Braidwood35 mins: Fleetwood are sitting deep with a 5-4-1 shape out of possession. Arsenal’s quality from wide areas has been lacking so far. Dowman is the latest to be stopped in his tracks after O’Neill’s cross was cleared.
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:31 , Jamie Braidwood30 mins: Viktor Gyokeres is yet to score this season. Now would be a good time. The striker turns on the edge of the box and fires a low shot towards goal that is saved by the goalkeeper Jay Lynch.
Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:29 , Jamie Braidwood27 mins: It’s the response you would expect from Arsenal. They’ve had all the ball but the League Two side are holding firm, and actually have been a pass away from getting through on goal for a second time. The home fans are sensing that this could be a famous night!
GOAL! Fleetwood 1-0 Arsenal
20:21 , Jamie BraidwoodWOW! Aaron Loupalo-Bi fires League Two Fleetwood in front! Amazing!
What a moment for Fleetwood. Red smoke from flares fill the air!
Loupalo-Bi shrugs off the teenage defender Salmon and breaks into the box.
He fires a low shot across Meslier and it bundles into the net!
Fleetwood 0-0 Arsenal
20:20 , Jamie Braidwood20 mins: CHANCE! A first sight of goal for Dowman! Is he looking for Gyokeres? Or trying to shoot at goal on his right foot? Either way, Dowman scuffs it.
Fleetwood 0-0 Arsenal
20:19 , Jamie Braidwood16 mins: Now the drone has buzzed away a decent cup tie has broken out. Fleetwood have a long throw and the wind causes some issues for goalkeeper Meslier, before Lewis-Skelly sees a shot blocked in the box by a thunderous challenge from Rooney.
Fleetwood 0-0 Arsenal
20:13 , Jamie Braidwood11 mins: And after all that Dowman’s free-kick was headed over.
Cheers at last from the Fleetwood fans.
Fleetwood 0-0 Arsenal
20:10 , Jamie Braidwood10 mins: Well, it seems the police have intervened and the operator of the drone has been caught.
Because the players are back on the pitch and the referee Michael Salisbury is happy for the match to continue.
Strange one.
Fleetwood 0-0 Arsenal
20:08 , Jamie Braidwood8 mins: WOW. The referee is calling the players off the pitch!
Fleetwood 0-0 Arsenal
20:06 , Jamie Braidwood5 mins: The unauthorised drone, which Fleetwood don’t recognise, is still hovering over the pitch. A terrible situation for Fleetwood, on the biggest night in their history.
Fleetwood 0-0 Arsenal
20:03 , Jamie Braidwood3 mins: Oh excellent. There’s a drone buzzing overhead. Jurrien Timber points it out and there’s a stoppage in play.
I hope this does not last long. The drone appears to have flown away. But the players are now knocking a ball around the pitch.
Fleetwood 0-0 Arsenal
20:02 , Jamie Braidwood2 mins: O’Neill wins an early free-kick and Dowman stands over it. The Fleetwood fans chant “you’ve got school in the morning”.
KICK-OFF! Fleetwood 0-0 Arsenal
20:01 , Jamie BraidwoodAnd we’re underway! There are 84 places between the Premier League champions and the League Two strugglers in the pyramid. Will we get a competitive game?
Fleetwood v Arsenal
19:58 , Jamie BraidwoodHighbury is crackling with excitement here. There are fireworks and loud bangs as the players walk out onto the pitch. Arsenal are at Anfield on Sunday. Tonight, they are playing with terraced houses within sight of the pitch. Can the League Two side produce the upset here against Havertz, Gyokeres and Dowman?
Is Illan Meslier now Arsenal's No 2?
19:56 , Jamie BraidwoodIllan Meslier arrived from Leeds United in the summer and makes his first start for Arsenal tonight.
Kepa Arrizabalaga made a big error in last season’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City: it looks like Meslier has the chance to make his claim to be David Raya’s back-up tonight.
Martin Zubimendi battles through suspected broken nose to start for Arsenal
19:54 , Jamie BraidwoodArsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi is wearing a protective mask during his side’s Carabao Cup match at Fleetwood Town tonight.
The Spain international suffered a suspected broken nose during the closing stages of Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday.
Having come on as an 80th minute substitute, Zubimendi took a blow to the face and required treatment – but he has been passed fit to start for Arsenal in the cup.
Fleetwood v Arsenal: From Islington to Highbury
19:50 , Jamie BraidwoodArsenal are back at Highbury tonight. Nope, not their former home in north London, but on the Fylde peninsula to face Fleetwood Town.
The Cod Army’s tiny ground is within view of neighbouring back windows and exposed to the elements on the north-west coast.
As the worst of Boelo passes through, it could still be a windy night at Highbury – it doesn’t take much of a gust up in Fleetwood for it to feel like a storm.
Mikel Arteta on his team selection: 'Give me a headache!'
19:40 , Jamie BraidwoodArsenal have named their youngest team in seven years, with three teenagers in their starting line-up.
“We take the game very seriously,” Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports.
“It’s great to have them with us, Marli, Ceadach, Max, Illan as well. We always said everyone is going to be important and has to be ready. The only way is if they play minutes.
“The best way to express yourself is when you have the chance and you have to play. Give me a reason, give my a headache, give my a problem and show me you have to play more. That’s what they’ve been doing so far.
“These competitions you’re in or you’re out. We need the same commitment to be better than you’re opponent.”
Arsenal's run of nine games in 27 days
19:30 , Jamie BraidwoodWith Arsenal preparing for their sixth of nine fixtures in the space of just 29 days – and a trip to Liverpool to come on Sunday – Mikel Arteta was always expected to rotate his options at Fleetwood.
🟢 W: 2-1 v Leeds | Premier League
🟢 W: 2-0 v Lille | Champions League
🟢 W: 1-0 v Nottingham Forest | Premier League
🤝 D: 2-2 v Bayern Munich | Champions League
🟢 W: 2-0 v Everton | Premier League
📆 27 Oct: vs Fleetwood Town | Carabao Cup
📆 1 Nov: vs Liverpool | Premier League
📆 4 Nov: vs Slavia Prague | Champions League
📆 7 Nov: vs Hull City | Premier League
Carabao Cup fixtures and draw details
19:20 , Jamie BraidwoodTuesday 27 October
Bradford City vs Peterborough United
Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal
Wednesday 28 October
Manchester City vs Brighton and Hove Albion
Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Sunderland vs Brentford
Liverpool vs Chelsea
Thursday 29 October
Everton v Newcastle
The draw will follow the conclusion of the tie between Liverpool and Chelsea tomorrow evening.
Mikel Arteta expecting high standards from his Arsenal players
19:10 , Jamie Braidwood"Our reputation, our pride, everything is in play,” Mikel Arteta replied when asked how he would motivate his Premier League champions for the visit to League Two opposition.
“Every time you play a football match, and especially against a team in a different division, respect the game, respect every opponent because they deserve to do that, and then try to win and try to play a bit better than them.
"We all have one [upset] at some stage. We know the risk, and in football, things can get very equal the moment you are able to match certain things, and that's why our basics and habits have to be through the roof to be able to win the game."
Fleetwood team news
19:06 , Jamie BraidwoodFleetwood Town make two changes from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Exeter City. Aaron Loupalo-Bi, on loan from Fulham, comes in, as does defender Rhys Bennett.
Fleetwood are captained by former Wales international Ched Evans. Now 37, Evans was convicted of rape in 2012 before being released in 2014. His conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2016 and he was acquitted at a retrial later that year.
Evans was appointed Fleetwood’s captain in the summer. He rejoined the club in last year after he previously played for them from 2019 to 2021.
Fleetwood XI: Lynch; Rooney, Bennett, Potter, Haughey, McLean, Neal, Helm, Batty, Evans, Loupala-Bi
Starting against the Arsenal. 🖇️
— Fleetwood Town Football Club (@ftfc) October 27, 2026
🤝 Fox Group pic.twitter.com/1dHunJopWv
Arsenal's team news continued: No Riccardo Calafiori in squad
18:53 , Jamie BraidwoodThere’s no Riccardo Calafiori in the Arsenal squad. He’s given the night off after taking a knock against Everton.
Martin Zubimendi starts for only the second time this season, and first time the previous round of the Carabao Cup.
Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres start together, which feels rare.
Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Bruno Guimaraes, Ben White and Ezri Konsa are left on the bench in reserve.
Which means Noni Madueke, Declan Rice, David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes are all given the night off as well.
Dowman starts at Fleetwood in Carabao Cup as two handed Arsenal debuts
18:47 , Jamie BraidwoodMax Dowman starts for Arsenal at Fleetwood Town while there are first-team debuts for Illan Meslier and Ceadach O'Neill.
The 16-year-old was the star man as Arsenal beat Ipswich in the third round and keeps his place in the Mikel Arteta’s Carabao Cup team.
But he is joined by Northern Ireland international O'Neill, with the 18-year-old lining up in attack.
There’s another teenager in Arsenal’s side with 17-year-old Marli Salmon in defence.
Arsenal XI: Meslier, Timber, Salmon, Mosquera, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, O’Neill, Havertz, Gyokeres
Subs: Arrizabalaga, White, Odegaard, Eze, Konsa, Guimaraes, Harriman-Annous, Washington, Hashi
🔵 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🟡
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 27, 2026
Your Carabao Cup Gunners 👊
🤝 @deel
Can Fleetwood produce the upset?
18:30 , Jamie BraidwoodWell, it was only last season that League Two’s Grimsby Town knocked out Manchester United from the Carabao Cup, albeit in the second round.
Victory for Fleetwood Town tonight would rank as perhaps the biggest win in the club’s history and they earned a shot at Arsenal by knocking out Sheffield United last time out.
“It has been a frustration of mine, and I’ve shared that with the group,” Lawlor said when asked about his side’s recent run of results.
“With a young group you get peaks and troughs. We need to level out a little bit more than we have done in recent weeks. It’s not from a lack of trying or effort.”
Mikel Arteta to ring the changes from Saturday?
18:18 , Jamie BraidwoodArsenal made five changes between drawing with Bayern Munich and beating Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
There are doubts over Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, as well as Bukayo Saka - who is expected to be out for the next few weeks.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Martín Zubimendi, Bruno Guimaraes and Max Dowman could come in this evening.
Team news from Fleetwood will land in the next few minutes. There are some big names stepping off the Arsenal bus, though.
Fleetwood boss urges players not to 'fear' Arsenal
18:15 , Jamie BraidwoodFleetwood have lost five of their last seven matches but boss Matt Lawlor says his team cannot be fearful of the Premier League champions, who have four of their last five in all competitions.
“The champions are coming to town and they’re coming to our patch,” he said.
“The players need to be excited by it, not overawed by it. The respect is through the roof, but the fear can’t be through the roof.
“We’ve earned a game like this. We’ve had to go through round upon round of tough games, and none of them were easy. To get to where we are, we deserve that.
“To be able to represent the town on the national stage is amazing.”
Max Dowman to start for Arsenal?
18:05 , Jamie BraidwoodThe 16-year-old was named Carabao Cup player of the round for his two goals in the 4-2 win at Ipswich last month, both of them were stunning too.
The teenager has had to be patient, with three substitute appearances off the bench since, but the Gunners have been hit by injuries to attacking players with Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis sidelined.
Could that lead to an opportunity for Dowman this evening? Arsenal have packed their travelling squad with youth players and Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate against Fleetwood - with a trip to Liverpool to come on Sunday.
Is Fleetwood v Arsenal on TV?
18:01 , Jamie BraidwoodYes, it is. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm.
Kick-off in Fleetwood is 8pm GMT.
Good evening and welcome
18:00 , Jamie BraidwoodArsenal will be out to avoid a Carabao Cup upset as they travel to Fleetwood Town in the fourth round this evening.
The Cod Army, struggling in 18th in League Two, host the Premier League champions at the 5,300-capacity Highbury.
They are the lowest-ranked team still in the competition after beating Championship outfit Sheffield United in the third round last month.
