Fleetwood Town produced one of the biggest shocks in Carabao Cup history as the League Two team dumped out Premier League champions Arsenal on penalties to reach the quarter-finals.
Mikel Arteta named a strong Arsenal side with Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz up front and Martin Odegaard playing the second half.
But they were not at the races, as the team two points above the League Two relegation zone took them to a 1-1 draw after Max Dowman was sent off before the shoot-out.
Then Bruno Guimaraes saw his penalty saved by Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch – who also made wonder saves to deny Ben White and Odegaard in stoppage time.
That left Conor Haughey to blast past Illan Meslier – picked by Arteta over penalty expert Kepa Arrizabalaga to make his Arsenal debut – to send Highbury mad.
Fleetwood deserved the shoot-out after a bonkers start to the game. An unrecognised drone hovering over Highbury forced a seven-minute delay after 90 seconds.
Then Aaron Loupalo-Bi put the fourth tier side ahead after outmuscling 17-year-old defender Marli Salmon and poking past Meslier.
Arsenal responded after half-time as Viktor Gyokoeres bundled home his first of the season at the back post after good work from Northern Ireland teenager Cedach O’Neill – making his first start for Arsenal.
But Havertz missed chance after chance. Then came a moment of contention as Dowman was shown his marching orders for apparently kicking out at Harrison Neal. The call was described as “really harsh” by Andy Hinchcliffe on Sky Sports commentary.
But this is Fleetwood’s story. A non-league club as recently as 2012, they have now knocked out the reigning Premier League champions.
More to follow…
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During their Carabao Cup clash at Highbury stadium, Fleetwood versus Arsenal was delayed due to a drone over the pitch.
The key moments in normal time from Highbury Stadium
1: DRONE! An unrecognised drone stops play at Highbury for seven minutes as it caused a security risk. Referee Michael Salibsury wanted to take both sets of players off but play resumed almost straight away because the drone flew off.
10: OVER! After the restart, Piero Hincapie heads over Dowman’s free-kick from close range.
20: BIG MISS! Dowman skews a shot wide when played through on goal by Salmon.
21: GOAL! Fleetwood go up the other end as Loupalo-Bi outmuscles Salmon to score past Meslier.
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Fleetwood Town’s Aaron Loupalo-Bi gives the League Two side a shock lead over Arsenal in their Carabao Cup fourth round clash.
42: CHANCES! Jurrien Timber misses two chances to score after Havertz headed his cross over the bar.
50: GOAL! Arsenal score from their first chance of the second half as Gyokeres bundles the ball home from close range.
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Viktor Gyokeres pulls Arsenal against Fleetwood level early into second-half!
59: MISSES! Havertz misses two big chances in quick succession from close range – blazing over, then hitting the side netting.
65: MORE MISSES! Lewis-Skelly misses the latest of two big second half chances as he can’t finish from a few yards out.
82: ALMOST! Fleetwood nearly snatch the win as Arsenal fail to clear and Will Davies sees a shot saved by Meslier.
90: OFF! Dowman is sent off after allegedly kicking out at Neal.
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Max Dowman SENT-OFF as Gunners go down to 10-men.
90+5: BIG SAVES! Lynch makes incredible double saves from White and Odegaard.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
