Fleetwood Town have stunned Arsenal by taking the lead against the Premier League champions in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The League Town minnows, who lie 18th in the fourth tier and some 84 places below the Gunners in the English football pyramid, opened the scoring in the 21st minute as Aaron Loupalo-Bi fired low into the net to beat debutant goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
It came after an eight-minute delay to the match at Highbury due to the presence of an unauthorised drone hovering over the pitch, which forced the referee Michael Salisbury to take all 22 players off the pitch during the stoppage.
Arsenal named a strong team and offered another start to Max Dowman, after the 16-year-old scored twice and was named player of the week as Arsenal beat Ipswich 4-2 in the previous round of a competition, they were runners-up in last season.
Follow updates from Fleetwood v Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, below
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Fleetwood v Arsenal LIVE: Latest Carabao Cup updates
- Minnows Fleetwood lead Arsenal in Carabao Cup after drone delays match | Live on Sky Sports
- 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
- There are 84 places between Premier League champions and League Two strugglers
- Max Dowman starts at Fleetwood in Carabao Cup as two handed Arsenal debuts
- Goalkeeper Illan Meslier and Northern Ireland international Ceadach O'Neill also start
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 v Arsenal delayed by unauthorised drone
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 🟡
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.
