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Fleetwood knock out Arsenal in cup shocker
Fleetwood Town players celebrate their keeper saving a goal in the penalty shootout against Arsenal
Image caption, Fleetwood Town beat Arsenal on penalties to go through to the quarter-finals for the first time

Premier League champions Arsenal have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Fleetwood Town in one of the biggest upsets in the cup's history.

The League Two side sit 84 places below the Gunners in football's leagues but managed to create the massive upset after winning 5-3 on penalties.

Matt Lawlor, who is the manager of Fleetwood, said it was the "biggest night in the club's history".

After the game Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta congratulated Fleetwood, but said for Arsenal it is "a very sad day".

Fleetwood, who are nicknamed the Cod Army, went ahead in the match after 21 minutes thanks to a goal from Aaron Loupalo-Bi, and they managed to hold onto that lead until halftime.

Shortly after the break striker Viktor Gyökeres got a goal back for Arsenal, but they just couldn't score another, and even had 16-year-old Max Dowman sent off, when he kicked out following a challenge from Fleetwood's Harrison Neal.

The game then went to penalties and, after Fleetwood keeper Jay Lynch kept out Bruno Guimaraes' penalty, it came down to Conor Haughey to send the Cod Army to the quarter-finals for the first time.

As he scored for Fleetwood to win 5-3 on penalties, fans ran onto the pitch to celebrate.

Fans celebrate on the pitch after Fleetwood Town beat Arsenal
Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal named a different team to what you might expect to see in the Premier League.

As well as Max Dowman, Arsenal played 18-year-old Ceadach O'Neill, 17-year-old Marli Salmon and gave goalkeeper Illan Meslier his first start for the club, but they played alongside some of the big name regulars.

Mikel Arteta said: "There is nothing to criticise the players for their attitude, their application. The determination - you could see that was there from the start.

"Even with 10 men, we conceded a really poor goal to start with that gave them some momentum."

Fleetwood's Matt Lawlor said: "I'm just so glad that the lads have the feeling the way they are and took that performance in to make that town, the club, everyone proud."

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