Fleetwood Town's remarkable victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup was marred by a player dismissal, but they managed to secure a historic win in the shootout.

Fleetwood Town stunned Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, advancing to the quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout. The League Two side triumphed 5-3 on penalties despite being reduced to ten men, showcasing resilience against the Premier League champions.

What happened

In a tense match at Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood took an early lead through Aaron Loupalo-Bi in the 21st minute. Arsenal responded with Viktor Gyokeres equalizing shortly after halftime. However, the game turned when Fleetwood's Max Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute for a retaliatory kick, leaving his team to navigate the final moments with a man down. Despite this setback, Fleetwood held on to force a penalty shootout.

Why it matters

This victory marks a significant achievement for Fleetwood Town, who, sitting 84 places below Arsenal in the football league hierarchy, secured one of the biggest upsets in recent cup history. The win not only boosts the morale of the Cod Army but also highlights the unpredictable nature of knockout competitions, where lower-league teams can triumph against higher-ranked opponents.