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Fleetwood Shock Arsenal in Carabao Cup, Win on Pens

By Drooid · Oct 28, 2026, 10:25 UTC · How we work

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Summary

Arsenal were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by fourth-tier Fleetwood Town on penalties.
Fleetwood become first fourth-tier side to knock out reigning Premier League champions.
Conor Haughey converted the decisive penalty as Fleetwood won the shootout 5-3.
Max Dowman was sent off for violent conduct with five minutes remaining.
Mikel Arteta called the defeat “a very sad day” and criticised the team’s missed chances.

Summary

BBC Sport compiled a list of historic English cup upsets that includes the Arsenal-Fleetwood loss.
The article asks readers to rank the upsets and post comments.
Social media users debate whether Arsenal’s defeat belongs among the five biggest English cup upsets.
Coverage also cites Grimsby’s win over Manchester United and Bradford’s defeat of Chelsea.

Summary

A drone hovered over Highbury Stadium, prompting referee Michael Salisbury to stop play for eight minutes.
The stoppage occurred with one minute and forty seconds left during Arsenal’s free-kick.
Police arrived and investigated the incident, later identifying the drone operator.
Sky commentator said the delay could reduce the club’s revenue from its most high-profile game.

History

The 1972 FA Cup replay in which non-league Hereford United beat First-Division Newcastle United 2-1 after extra time on 5 February 1972 remains one of English football’s earliest giant-killings, the first such upset since Yeovil’s 1949 win. That shock set a tradition of cup upsets, echoed today by Arsenal’s loss to fourth-tier Fleetwood Town.

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Historical Context

The 1972 FA Cup replay in which non-league Hereford United beat First-Division Newcastle United 2-1 after extra time on 5 February 1972 remains one of English football’s earliest giant-killings, the first such upset since Yeovil’s 1949 win. That shock set a tradition of cup upsets, echoed today by Arsenal’s loss to fourth-tier Fleetwood Town.

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