Fourth-tier Fleetwood Town stunned Arsenal 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw on Tuesday to reach the League Cup quarter-finals. The League Two side pulled off a major upset at Highbury Stadium.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave Fleetwood the lead in the 21st minute. He shrugged off Arsenal defender Marli Salmon before firing past goalkeeper Illan Meslier from a tight angle.
The match was briefly interrupted for more than eight minutes after a drone was spotted above the stadium.
Gyokeres equalises for Arsenal
Arsenal drew level four minutes into the second half through Viktor Gyokeres. The striker scored from close range after debutant Ceadach O’Neill controlled a long ball from Piero Hincapie and delivered it into the area.
Arsenal’s task became harder when teenager Max Dowman was sent off. The dismissal followed an altercation with Fleetwood’s Neal near the halfway line.
Fleetwood then faced late pressure from Arsenal but held on to force a penalty shootout. Lynch made an important save to deny Ben White before the match went to spot-kicks.
Lynch inspires Fleetwood to victory
Lynch proved decisive in the shootout, diving to his left to save Guimaraes’ penalty and put Fleetwood ahead 4-3.
Conor Haughey then sent Meslier the wrong way to seal the victory and book Fleetwood’s place in the last eight.
Speaking to Sky, Lynch celebrated the result and its significance for the club and its supporters.
“Amazing for the club, the town. Honestly, it means everything to everyone,” he said.
He also revealed that Fleetwood took inspiration from Grimsby Town’s cup victory over Manchester United last season.
“We took heart from Grimsby beating Man Utd last year. We kind of compared it. The whole team throughout the game was magnificent. To beat the English champions – credit to these lads.”
The victory was a major surprise for Fleetwood, who sit in the bottom half of League Two. They had won only one of their previous eight league matches.
Arsenal, meanwhile, had won seven of their opening eight Premier League games. They were also unbeaten in the Champions League before the defeat.
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