Fleetwod Town 1-1 Arsenal [5-3p]: Carabao Cup upset as Fleetwood knock out Premier League Champions

Fleetwood Town caused a massive upset against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last night, as an astonishing penalty shootout knocked out the Premier League champions and sent the League Two side to the quarter-finals. The Cod Army opened the scoring in the first half after poor defending from Arsenal, but the Gunners equalised early in the second half, forcing a penalty shootout despite chances from both sides. Following a stuttered run-up by Bruno Guimaraes and a huge save from Jay Lynch, Conor Haughey would be the man to send 18th in League Two, Fleetwood Town, into the quarter-finals of the League Cup. As It Happened Arsenal named a surprising line-up with nine changes from the team that beat Everton on Saturday, with only Viktor Gyokeres and Myles Lewis-Skelly keeping their places in the line-up. Meanwhile, Fleetwood made just two changes following their defeat to Exeter City on the weekend, seeing Lewis McCann and Ronan Coughlan replaced by Rhys Bennett and Aaron Loupalo-Bi. Referee Michael Salisbury stopped the match just one minute and 40 seconds into play after noticing a drone flying above Highbury Stadium. The game was stopped for eight minutes as Salisbury spoke to management staff, with police investigating the incident and eventually locating the drone operator. Following the drone drama, Fleetwood would look to make a statement just 20 minutes into the match as Lupalo-Bi tucked home the first goal of the clash. The on-loan Fulham forward managed to get into the box and capitalise on some poor defending from the Gunners, avoiding a challenge from Marli Salmon as he put the ball through Illan Meslier’s legs as Highbury erupted. Chances for both Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber came just before the half-time whistle, though both efforts would nod over the crossbar, leaving the Premier League champions trailing at the break. Mikel Arteta looked to make an impact in the second half, as Martin Odegaard and Ben White replaced Timber and Salmon, with the Arsenal boss applying a reshuffle on the pitch. Viktor Gyokeres would claim his first goal of the season and set the scoreline level after Arsenal debutant, Cedach O’Neill, ran down the left, putting in a low cross which fell to Gyokeres at the back post, poking home the equaliser. With penalties looming in the 85th minute, the Gunners would see Max Dowman sent off following a strong challenge from Harrison Neal in an attempt to take out the 16-year-old. Dowman would catch the Fleetwood midfielder in the melee before both sets of players got involved, with the teenager being shown a straight red in the aftermath. Despite five minutes of added time, the clash would finish 1-1 and head to penalties as Fleetwood Town fans celebrated in the hopes of causing the next Carabao Cup upset.