Fulham v Arsenal - Premier League Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, stands before the Premier League match between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage in London, England, on October 18, 2025. London Greater London United Kingdom PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xMIxNewsx originalFilename:fletcher-fulhamvs251018_npfxx.jpg
Arsenal were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday by fourth-tier Fleetwood Town.
The Premier League champions lost 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Highbury Stadium in the fourth round.
It is the first time the reigning top-flight champions have lost a League Cup tie to a fourth-tier side. 84 places separated the clubs in the English football pyramid, and Fleetwood sit 18th in League Two.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave Fleetwood the lead in the 21st minute. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard came on at half-time, and Viktor Gyokeres equalised five minutes after the restart.
Max Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute for kicking out at Fleetwood’s Harrison Neal.
The 16-year-old will serve a three-match ban that covers Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, the home game against Hull and the visit to Newcastle.
Fleetwood scored all five of their penalties. Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Gyokeres scored for Arsenal before goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimaraes’ effort. Defender Conor Haughey, 19, then scored the winner.
Mikel Arteta said the result was not down to attitude. “I’m sad, we’re all sad,” the Arsenal manager said after the match.
Arsenal now travel to Anfield on Sunday, with kick-off at 4.30pm UK time. The trip comes with fresh fitness concerns.
Speaking after the Fleetwood defeat, Arteta confirmed that Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori were all unavailable for the Carabao Cup tie because of injury concerns.
Asked whether the trio had been rested and whether he regretted leaving them out, he said: “No, Calafiori was out, Noni was out with an ankle, and Declan was feeling a problem the other day, which is why I had to substitute him.”
Martin Zubimendi replaced Rice in the 80th minute of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton, after the England midfielder appeared to hold his hamstring.
Madueke played the full 90 minutes against Everton but was not spotted in training on Monday. Arteta has not given a timeframe for his ankle problem.
Calafiori’s situation looks more positive. Arteta described his issue after the Everton game as a “slight issue”, and the Italian defender went straight down the tunnel at full-time and he is expected to be fit for Anfield, along with winger Christos Tzolis, who has missed five games with a hamstring injury.
Arteta is expected to give a fuller update on Rice, Madueke and Calafiori at his pre-match press conference.
Arsenal remain without Bukayo Saka, who suffered a quadriceps injury against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Arteta said before the Everton game that it would be “weeks” and that another scan was needed because of fluid in the area.
William Saliba, who has not played this season because of a back problem, is not expected to return before December.
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FC Barcelona, Barca v Villarreal CF - LaLiga EA Sports Hansi Flick coaches FC Barcelona during the La Liga EA Sports 2025 26 match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Spotify Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on February 2026. Barcelona Catalonia Spain PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xGongorax originalFilename:bonilla-fcbarcel260228_np3Tl.jpg