Fleetwood Town's English goalkeeper #01 Jay Lynch celebrates after saving a penalty shot from Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder #39 Bruno Guimar??es (unseen) during a penalty shoot out following a 1-1 draw in the English League Cup fourth round football match between Fleetwood Town and Arsenal at Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood, north west England, on October 27, 2026. Fleetwood won the match 5-3 following a penalty shoot out. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Fleetwood Town's English goalkeeper #01 Jay Lynch celebrates after saving a penalty shot from Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder #39 Bruno Guimar??es (unseen) during a penalty shoot out following a 1-1 draw in the English League Cup fourth round football match between Fleetwood Town and Arsenal at Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood, north west England, on October 27, 2026. Fleetwood won the match 5-3 following a penalty shoot out. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Fleetwood Town goalkeeper Jay Lynch claims Arsenal’s superstars didn’t take defeat well after their shock Carabao Cup defeat at the hands of the League Two side.
In one of the greatest upsets in the competition’s history, Fleetwood beat the Premier League champions 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Highbury.
The team 18th in League Two got the better of an Arsenal side that featured the likes of Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi.
Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes came off the bench and it was the summer signing from Newcastle who came up short from the spot, seeing his effort saved by Lynch.
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Conor Haughey then had the task of scoring the final penalty, which he completed and Fleetwood secured their place in the next round.
There were wild scenes of celebration after the final penalty, which Lynch accepts made it difficult to interact with the Arsenal players, but he still feels the superstars of the Emirates did not take defeat well.
‘It’s obviously such a huge moment for us and all the fans ran on, no one actually got chance to speak to them,’ Lynch told talkSPORT.
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Daniel Weir/Sports Press Photo/Shutterstock (17239031bc) Conor Haughey of Fleetwood Town celebrates with Jay Lynch of Fleetwood Town after scoring the winning penalty kick in the penalty shoot out as Fleetwood Town FC beat Arsenal FC on penalty kicks during the Carabao Cup Last 16 match between Fleetwood Town FC v Arsenal FC at Highbury Stadium on October 27, 2026 in Fleetwood, England. Carabao Cup - Fleetwood Town FC v Arsenal FC, Highbury Stadium, England - 27 Oct 2026
Conor Haughey sent Fleetwood Town into the quarter-finals (Picture: Shutterstock)
‘I think the gaffer spoke to their gaffer briefly, but because of all the fans we didn’t actually get a chance to ask for shirts or even speak to them or anything, to be honest. They didn’t take it well, let’s put it that way.’
Arsenal’s teenage sensation Max Dowman was sent off on 85 minutes, shown a straight red for retaliating after a heavy challenge from Fleetwood’s Harrison Neal.
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Lynch insisted Neal’s tackle was a fair one and physicality was all part of their plan to unsettle the Premier League outfit.
The weather could not be part of the plan, but the grim conditions were a bonus for the underdogs.
[LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich and England accepts the Men's Ballon d'Or award during the 70th Ballon D'Or Ceremony at Palladium Theatre on October 26, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich and England accepts the Men's Ballon d'Or award during the 70th Ballon D'Or Ceremony at Palladium Theatre on October 26, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)](https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/27/ex-arsenal-man-city-star-hits-harry-kane-winning-ballon-dor-29741506/)
‘You’ve seen it with the Max Dowman tackle, the sending off. That’s what we’re about, that’s what League Two is about, winning your duels,’ said Lynch. ‘But fairly. I think it was a fair tackle.
‘We’ve had a storm at the minute, with the weather. We actually wanted it as bad as possible. I remember driving to the stadium, the sun’s shining, we’re thinking, oh no this suits them. Then the wind comes and we’re thinking alright, game on.’