Fleetwood Town beat Arsenal in a Carabao Cup penalty shootout to produce one of the competition's greatest shocks. The League Two side won 5-3 on spot-kicks after a 1-1 draw at Highbury, ending Arsenal's 20-year unbeaten run at their famous old ground.
Former Arsenal player and pundit Paul Merson described the result as the biggest shock in the history of the competition. Arsenal had won their previous eight League Cup matches against fourth-tier sides, a streak stretching back to a penalty defeat by Bradford City in the 2012-13 quarter-finals. Fleetwood, currently 18th in League Two, became the first non-league team to eliminate the reigning Premier League champions in the Carabao Cup's 66-year history.
The Winning Penalty
Conor Haughey scored the decisive penalty to send Fleetwood into the quarter-finals for the first time. The shootout was required after a tense 90 minutes and extra time failed to separate the sides. Arsenal's Bruno Guimaraes had his penalty saved by Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch.
The Match Context
Fleetwood's Aaron Loupalo-Bi opened the scoring in the 21st minute, sending the home support into raptures. Arsenal, who named a strong side featuring Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, equalised through Gyokeres in the 50th minute. The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with Fleetwood reduced to ten men after Max Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute for a second bookable offence.
The Shock Factor
Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor admitted his team had not practised penalties. "I've just told the players to enjoy it and we've got a league game on Saturday," Lawlor said. "I didn't want to be the bearer of reality, but we've got a game."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left devastated. "A really sad day for us," Arteta said. "Something that we discussed already before the match. We didn't, and football is about that." The victory is estimated to have earned Fleetwood around £400,000 in prize money and broadcast revenue. The club's focus now turns to their League Two fixture this Saturday against Accrington Stanley.
Read the full report at theguardian.com
