An upset is on the cards for the last 16 of the Carabao Cup after League Two Fleetwood Town took a shock lead against Premier League champions Arsenal.
The match at Highbury started in strange circumstances, then play was stopped for several minutes due to a drone flying over the stadium, but when play resumed, the home side were able to strike first.
With 21 minutes on the clock, Aaron Loupalo-Bi sent Highbury (not him) into dreamland for what could have been a famous goal for the Lancashire outfit.
The on-loan Fulham forward chased the ball in behind and used his strength to get the better of Arsenal teenager Marley Salmon before breaking into the box.
He stood up under pressure and calmly slotted the ball through Islan Meslier’s legs, sparking wild celebrations.
It was a moment of pure drama for Fleetwood, who started the night just two points above the League Two relegation zone.
Arsenal’s defense left a lot to be desired, with Salmon isolated one-on-one, but Loupalo-Bi took full advantage to put the underdogs in front.
There is still a long way to go, but Fleetwood have given themselves a famous opportunity to pull off a huge EFL Cup game that will live long in the memories of these fans.
Where to watch Fleetwood vs Arsenal: TV channel, live streaming online
Kick-off on Tuesday at 20:00 GMT (16:00 ET / 13:00 PT) will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra.
Sky Sports via Now TV costs £14.99 for a one-day membership, £27.99 per month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 per month without a contract.
Fleetwood have confirmed their starting line-up against Arsenal
Fleetwood make two changes from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at fourth-tier Exeter City.
Finn Potter has recovered from a cut above his eye and Andy Cannon is back in training, but Will Johnson and Kane Thompson-Sommers are injured.
Striker Lewis McCann is suspended for two bookings in this season’s competition and is replaced by Aaron Loupalo-Bi.
Rhys Bennett’s ban is over and he returns to replace Ronan Coughlan.
Fleetwood Town: Lynch, Rooney, Haughey, Potter, Bennett, McLean, Neal, Helm, Batty, Evans, Loupalo-Bio
Ssubstitutes: Pradic, Andrew, Cannon, Davies, Thomas, Murphy, Coughlan, Robertson, Cirino
Arsenal vs Fleetwood Town full squad
Arsenal make nine changes from their win over the Toffees, with only Myles Lewis-Skelly and Viktor Gyokerse keeping their places.
Piero Hincapie was an unused substitute against Everton after being ruled out of last Wednesday’s Champions League draw at Bayern Munich.
William Saliba, Christos Tzolis and Bukayo Saka are injured.
Arsenal: Meslier; Wood, Salmon, Mosquera, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, O’Neill; Havertz, Gokeres
Substitutes: Kepa, White, Odegaard, Eze, Concert, Guimaraes, Harriman-Annous, Washington, Hashi
Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal: Carabao Cup stats
- Fleetwood have never beaten top-flight opposition (D1 L4) but reached the fourth round for the first time as part of their 15th EFL Cup campaign, with their previous best runs ending in the third round in the 2022/23 and 2020/21 seasons.
- Town’s last two exits from the competition have come via penalties, losing 7-6 at Barnsley after a 2-2 draw in the first leg last season and 3-2 at Stoke City after a 1-1 third-leg finish in 2024/25.
- Since a 1–0 defeat to Everton in the second round in August 2022, Fleetwood have won five consecutive home EFL Cups.
- After defeats against West Bromwich Albion and Rotherham United in 2023/24 – both finishing 2-1 – they have kept clean sheets in all three of their EFL Cup matches at Highbury Stadium this season, beating Chesterfield and Sheffield United 1-0 either side of a 4-0 win over Shrewsbury Town.
- A 2-1 defeat at Rochdale in League Two on 26 September is Fleetwood’s only defeat in their last 12 home matches in all competitions (6 D5).
- They had progressed in just six of their 20 EFL Cup matches so far this season, keeping one clean sheet in 20 games, but could now become the first fourth-tier side to keep four clean sheets in the competition since Tranmere Rovers in 1988/89.
- Arsenal have won nine of their last 12 EFL Cup games, losing to Manchester City in last season’s final and losing twice to Newcastle in the 2024/25 semi-finals.
- Defeat to City extended their 33-year wait to lift the trophy for the third time, having won in 1987 and 1993.
- Five of Arsenal’s last six defeats have come away from home at the Emirates Stadium, including an FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Championship side Southampton on April 4 against a relegation side.
- Eberechi Eze has been directly involved in seven goals in his last four EFL Cup games against non-Premier League sides (two goals, five assists), including the first in a 2-0 EFL Cup win at Port Vale last season.
- Max Dowman scored two goals in the third round at Ipswich at 16 years 258 days and made three appearances in the EFL Cup, Harvey Elliott is the only player to have made more appearances for a Premier League club before the age of 17 (one for Fulham, three for Liverpool)
- This is Arsenal’s 10th EFL Cup match against a team from the fourth tier of English football, having won eight times, losing on penalties at Bradford City after a 1-1 draw in their last such game in 2012/13.
Carabao Cup: When is the EFL Cup quarter-final draw?
The draw will be made on Wednesday, October 28, after the quarter-final match between Liverpool and Chelsea.
Presenter Dave Jones will host the draw alongside former England defenders Conor Coady and Graeme Le Saux.
What time is the EFL Cup quarter final draw?
The game at Anfield kicks off at 20:00 GMT (16:00 ET / 13:00 PT) and will go straight to penalties if the score is level after 90 minutes.
This means that the draw will take place at approximately 22:00 GMT (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT), subject to extra time and whether penalty kicks are required.
EFL Cup: What channel is the Carabao Cup draw on?
All eight games are available on Sky Sports, with Liverpool v Chelsea also available on ITV1.