Here are our Arsenal player ratings after the Premier League champions suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup exit at Fleetwood Town
Max Dowman was sent off for Arsenal in their clash with Fleetwood Town
Max Dowman was sent off for Arsenal in their clash with Fleetwood Town
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Arsenal suffered a humiliating fourth-round Carabao Cup exit, with League Two side Fleetwood Town winning a penalty shootout to earn a historic win over the Premier League champions.
The fourth-round tie was interrupted in the opening stages by a drone flying above Highbury Stadium. Barely a minute of the match had been played when referee Michael Salisbury was alerted to the drone overhead.
Arsenal had been preparing to take a free-kick when Salisbury halted the match to speak with officials next to the touchline. The referee then called both sets of players over to the touchline, speaking to both captains and managers, but moments later the drone flew off and play resumed after a delay of more than eight minutes.
The match was the biggest in Fleetwood’s 15-year history as a football league club, with this the furthest they have ever gone in the League Cup.
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Mikel Arteta rolled the dice by making nine changes to the side that beat Everton 2-0 in the Premier League last weekend, but Marli Salmon - one of the players to come into the side - was at fault for Fleetwood's opener in the first half.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi - formerly of Fulham - latched onto a ball forward and turned the young Gunners defender before keeping his composure to finish past Illan Meslier. It sent the Highbury Stadium wild and despite piling the pressure on, the visiting north Londoners went into the break 1-0 down.
Arteta made changes at break with Martin Odegaard and Ben White coming on for Jurrien Timber and Salmon, with the captain's introduction making a huge difference. Five minutes into the second period and the visitors were level, with Gyokeres somehow bundling home a scruffy goal after Ceadach O’Neill's teasing delivery.
With five minutes of normal time remaining, Max Dowman was sent off after his reaction to a strong Harrison Neal challenge - with the wonderkid shown his marching orders for seemingly kicking out at the Fleetwood player.
The match was decided by a penalty shoot-out and Fleetwood Town won 5-3 to claim an historic win - but it was a humiliating night for the visitors.
Here are our player ratings in full...
Illan Meslier
Started instead of Kepa Arrizabalaga. Opener went through him so arguably could have done better. 5
Jurrien Timber
Motored into good positions but wasted those openings with poor executing or by losing his footing. Came off at half-time. 5
Marli Salmon
Outmuscled for Fleetwood's opener. Tried to recover the ball with a sliding challenge but couldn't stop Aaron Loupalo-Bi from scoring. 3
Cristhian Mosquera
Ched Evans roughed him up and caused him problems. Let the ball bounce too many times. When he was more aggressive and decisive, he was able to clear the danger. 6
Piero Hincapie
Missed early header from close-range. Busy and showed for the ball. Was badly fouled on the touchline at one point but it wasn't given. 6
Martin Zubimendi
Rushed things at times. Poor in possession and weak in duels. 5
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Never hid, always showing for the ball. Curled an effort narrowly wide as Arsenal turned the screw. 6
Max Dowman
Wasted first-half chance, screwing the ball wide of the mark. Created a few chances but not his best evening's work. Sent off with five minutes ago but seemed harsh, with the wonderkid reacting to a strong challenge from Harrison Neal with an apparent kick-out - but not much in it. 5
Kai Havertz
Battled and put his foot in while playing as the No.10. Missed a close-range header from Max Dowman's cross and then missed two more chances in the second half. Wasteful. 4.5
Ceadach O'Neill
Struggled for space down the left in the first half but that quickly changed. Created the equaliser and caused big problems. 6.5
Viktor Gyokeres
Nowhere near the required level first half. Did not look out of place against League Two opposition. Ran the ball out of play at one point but responded by scoring the equaliser following a scrappy finish. 6
Substitutes
Martin Odegaard (on for Salmon, 46 mins)
Upped the tempo immediately after coming on at the break. 7.5
Ben White (on for Timber, 46 mins)
Brought a bit more solidity to Arsenal's backline**. 6**
Eberechi Eze (on for O'Neill, 66 mins)
Didn't make the impact expected of him. 5.5
Ezri Konsa (on for Lewis-Skelly, 82 mins)
N/A
Bruno Guimaraes (on for Zubimendi, 82 mins)
N/A