Arsenal suffered a shock Carabao Cup fourth-round exit on 28 October 2026, losing 5-3 on penalties to League Two side Fleetwood Town, as the Gunners squandered a host of chances across regulation time and could not recover in the shootout. Manager Mikel Arteta urged his squad to take the defeat 'on the chin' and focus on their next assignment — a Premier League trip to Anfield against Liverpool on Sunday.

How the Match Unfolded

Aaron Loupalo-Bi put the League Two hosts ahead in the 21st minute, handing Fleetwood an early foothold that clearly unsettled the visitors. Viktor Gyokeres restored parity for Arsenal in the second half, briefly levelling the tie and appearing to swing momentum in the Gunners' favour.

Despite creating several clear-cut chances after equalising — with Kai Havertz and Myles Lewis-Skelly among those going close — Arsenal could not find the decisive goal. Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch was outstanding between the posts, making crucial saves to keep his side level through 90 minutes.

What Arteta Said

'First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood for going into the next round. Obviously, a really sad day for us. There's nothing to criticise the players for in terms of their attitude, their application, their determination to go and play the game that we had to play, but obviously we conceded that really poor goal to start with and gave them some belief,' Arteta told reporters after the match.

The Spaniard was candid about his side's profligacy in front of goal. 'After that, we started to attack, have many chances, and the volume of balls that we had, shots, and situations were clear-cut chances that we didn't put away. If you don't capitalise at this level, it's the competition you are in and you are out; there are no margins for error,' he added.

Historic Night for Fleetwood

The result hands Fleetwood Town a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the club's history — a remarkable achievement for a side playing in the fourth tier of English football. This is among the most striking giant-killing results the competition has produced in recent seasons, comparable to the upsets that have defined the Carabao Cup's reputation for drama.

Arsenal Turn Attention to Anfield

Arteta was quick to refocus his squad after the loss, acknowledging the need for a swift mental reset. 'We need to take it now on the chin. We are out of the competition; we're very sad for all the people as well here who came to watch the game — I wanted to give them the victory. Now we need to recover and get ready for Anfield,' he said.

The manager also paid tribute to the Arsenal travelling support who made the journey to the northwest. 'They are always with us. That's unquestionable; after the game they showed their appreciation to the team, and we'll try to make them very happy against Liverpool,' Arteta said. The Anfield fixture on Sunday now takes on additional significance as Arsenal look to rediscover form and confidence after this cup setback.