Fleetwood staff and players in emotional scenes after their Carabao Cup draw with Arsenal

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There were exciting scenes for Fleetwood’s staff and players after they were drawn against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup fourth round draw.

The League Two side have reached the last 16 and Reece Norrington-Davies left with his head in his hands after scoring an own goal.

Matt Lawlor’s Fleetwood, currently unbeaten in nine games in all competitions, also had a goal disallowed for offside but had a chance to come back.

Tom Cannon thought he had scored for Sheffield United but the offside flag was raised.

Fleetwood boss Matt Lawler said on the home draw against Arsenal: “Yeah, it’s the ultimate test. It’s an amazing reward for the players and it’s an amazing reward for the club, obviously, there’s been a lot of work put in by the whole club, not to mention the whole squad, since pre-season started.”

“So, yeah, it’s just something we’re all looking forward to, like I said to you before. Barnett gives it its all, yeah, but for all of us to get the best team in the country is an amazing reward.”

interviewer: “Were all the boys together when the lot was drawn?”

Matt: “Yeah, I think we were together as a staff. I was with the Sheffield United staff at the time. I think all the boys were in Jim’s Bar. We ended up coming up with a slogan and another club did one about ‘Being More Fleetwood’, so they were definitely in the bar after not drinking.

“But they were in the pub afterwards. All of us Fleetwood fans know the news, Arsenal, so yes, there’s a lot of excitement but there’s still work to do on Saturday.”

interviewer: “Old Highbury versus current Highbury, that would be cliche, wouldn’t it?”

Matt“Yes, I can see information about Highbury Stadium on some of the pendants around me, so as far as Highbury is concerned it’s back to their home ground so obviously the club can share something in that regard.

“So I think the chairman is really pleased, Jamie said this is the draw he’s always wanted since he was a kid, Highbury, Arsenal coming to our Highbury, so yeah, it’s very pleasing for the whole club, the staff and all the players.”

interviewer: “Great news for the fans too, it’s a big occasion for them, isn’t it, come and see.”

Matt“Yeah, I expect them to be as amazing as they were tonight, I think they are, they push us forward, they push us to put on a great performance tonight and that’s what we need in this place, we really need them.

“Again, I always talk about fans in a chicken-and-egg way, don’t you? It’s us keeping them going, or they keeping us going, both tonight. Like, sometimes we need you more than we can give you, and then sometimes we deliver, and then we need you.

“So, yes, if we can do that, I think we always perform well under the Ivorian lights as well. So the fans tonight were fantastic, fantastic and I couldn’t be more grateful for that. So to have Arsenal here to be loud and proud of the city is a really nice reward.”

On the club making history, he said, according to Club website: “It sounded good, but my voice wasn’t great because I was shouting all night.

“I’m very proud of the performance and the result against an unbelievable team.

“They are a Championship team with an unbelievable manager who I admire from afar. I’m really happy and proud of how we performed.

“I thought our defense was very good and we have to do that because they have good quality.

“Look at their substitutes and starters. There are unbelievable players starting and coming on, so we have to stay focused the whole 95 or 96 minutes.

“I thought we performed well both with and without the ball. The crowd was unbelievable and so was the whole feeling and atmosphere.

“I love this feeling and because of the team we have, the feeling I had before the game was replicated during the game.

“We are a confident group of guys now. We have to keep that confidence in the game because there were five or ten minutes in the last two games where things affected us.

“We need to have a consistent character to keep doing what we’re doing. I think we’re getting there.”

On Barnet: “I have huge respect for Barnett and Dean. I think he’s an interesting and talented manager.

“I like the way his team plays, their energy and character. Any coach wants their team to represent their style and I think Dean does a great job in that regard.

“They are full of movement and have very good players. The last time we played Kabongo he was outstanding and was a threat from behind.

“They have quality all over the pitch and are a threat from set-pieces and in the air. We are preparing for a very good team who are top of the league.”

Make sure not to become complacent: “We will never get comfortable, we will never be complacent and we will always be fully focused on the next opponent.

“In the next two days we have to use our heads, get rid of the emotions of tonight and focus on Saturday.

“Recovery is probably more important than training, but we have made decisions about the circumstances. We are happy that we have a healthy squad to choose from.”

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