In a shocking twist, ARSENAL faced elimination from the cup at the hands of the underdog Fleetwood Town, succumbing to a nail-biting penalty shootout that will be remembered as one of the most significant upsets in recent cup history.

The Gunners were pushed to the brink by their League Two rivals after a disappointing 1-1 display, compounded by a surprising red card for Max Dowman.

Fulham’s loanee Aaron Loupalo-Bi delivered an early shock to the Premier League champions with a goal, leading to a challenging evening for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Viktor Gyokeres’ equalizing goal in the second half was crucial in pushing the game to penalties after Dowman received a red card for a foul on a Fleetwood player.

Connor Haughey emerged as the hero for the Cod Army, successfully converting the decisive penalty in the shootout after Bruno Guimaraes had his attempt saved from the spot.

Below are the individual ratings for each Arsenal player, as provided by SunSport Arsenal Reporter Joshua Hall…

ILLAN MESLIER – 5

A debut for the summer signing that some speculated could indicate the end of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s time in goal.

However, his unsuccessful attempt to save Fleetwood’s first goal did little to solidify his claim to the No.2 spot, as did his failure to save any penalties.

JURRIEN TIMBER – 5

This was an important appearance for him to continue building fitness while wearing the captain’s armband for the first time.

Nevertheless, Arsenal’s struggles in the first half led to his substitution for Ben White at halftime.

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

CRISTHIAN MOSQUERA – 6

Making a return from injury for his first start in nearly two months.

He competed well against Ched Evans for much of the game, although there remains a noticeable drop off compared to players like Gabriel Magalhaes, Ezri Konsa, and William Saliba.

MARLI SALMON – 4

He struggled to contain Fulham loanee Aaron Loupalo-Bi during Fleetwood’s opener and will be disappointed with how he was outmaneuvered by the forward.

A challenging match for the 17-year-old, who was substituted by Martin Odegaard at halftime.

PIERO HINCAPIE – 6

He spent a significant amount of time in the Fleetwood final third as he looked to contribute to the attack.

Although he missed a chance early on, his performance was solid overall.

MARTIN ZUBIMENDI – 5

Due to limited game time this season, this was a rare start for the World Cup champion.

He rushed his plays a bit and struggled to weave Arsenal’s possession together against League Two opposition adequately.

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 6

He fought well at times but lost possession too frequently.

Mikel Arteta was seen giving instructions to the versatile player throughout the match, indicating the manager’s thoughts on some of his decisions.

MAX DOWMAN – 4

He was kicked, pulled, harried, and fouled every time he touched the ball.

The teenager’s reputation as a promising prospect in England added pressure, making the match difficult for him.

Things escalated when he retaliated against Harrison Neal after enduring a physical game.

The referee had no choice but to justifiably issue a red card.

Dowman cannot contest the decision; kicking out was unwise, but his frustration is understandable.

CEADACH O’NEILL – 7

Making his senior debut at just 18, despite having four caps for the Northern Ireland national team prior to this game.

He had difficulty finding space on the left side in the first half but consistently chased down opponents and fought for every loose ball.

His second-half performance was remarkable, providing the assist for Gyokeres’ equalizer with a measured cross and growing in confidence with each touch.

KAI HAVERTZ – 5

Arteta’s decision to start Havertz alongside Gyokeres before a crucial Premier League match against Liverpool seemed unusual.

He squandered several significant chances and, despite displaying some nice footwork, needed to improve in the final third.

VIKTOR GYOKERES – 6

The first half proved quite challenging for Gyokeres, as he struggled to make an impact against League Two opposition.

However, he managed to score Arsenal’s equalizer, marking his first goal of the season.

SUBSTITUTES

MARTIN ODEGAARD (for Salmon, 45 mins) – 7

He transformed the game upon entering, controlling Arsenal’s attack from a deep position and serving as the midfield anchor that helped push the Gunners to penalties.

However, not even he could prevent Fleetwood from achieving this unlikely win.

BEN WHITE (for Timber, 45mins) – 6

He performed adequately after coming on, helping to create space for Odegaard.

EBERECHI EZE (for O’Neill, 66mins) – 6

He displayed some nice play down the left flank, but it seemed peculiar for Arteta to substitute O’Neill given his second-half contribution.

EZRI KONSA (for Lewis-Skelly, 82mins) – N/A

BRUNO GUIMARAES (for Zubimendi, 82mins) – 4

He missed the pivotal penalty following an unsteady run-up.