Fleetwood eliminate Arsenal after a 1-1 draw and a 5-3 shootout win. Lynch and Haughey decide the tie after Dowman sees red.

Fleetwood knocked Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup at Fleetwood’s Highbury Stadium on Tuesday 27 October, winning the shootout 5-3 after a 1-1 draw. Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimarães’s penalty before Conor Haughey converted the decisive kick. The fourth-tier club advance to the quarter-finals; the English champions are out.

Loupalo-Bi gives Fleetwood something to protect

Fleetwood took the lead in the 21st minute. Aaron Loupalo-Bi held off Marli Salmon before beating Illan Meslier in the Arsenal goal. The Fulham loanee gave the hosts an advantage that changed the demands of the tie: Arsenal had to recover, while Fleetwood could defend their lead.

The opening stages had been interrupted by a drone above the ground. Once play resumed, Arsenal created chances, including an opportunity for Max Dowman. Yet they went into the interval 1-0 down. The gap between the clubs offered no protection against an opponent taking its opportunity.