A "34-year shocker": Arsenal suffers stunning defeat to fourth-tier side, eliminated from Carabao Cup Round of 16

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Arsenal, the "champion" of the English Premier League (EPL), suffered a shocking loss against a fourth-division team.

On the 28th (Korean time), at Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood, England, Arsenal drew 1-1 with Fleetwood Town in the fourth round (Round of 16) of the 2026~2027 English Football League Cup (EFL Cup/Carabao Cup) before losing 3-5 on penalties.

According to football statistics provider Opta, it has been a whopping 34 years since a fourth-tier team defeated an EPL champion, the last instance being against Arsenal in 1992. Coincidentally, the opponent at that time was also Arsenal.

Arsenal dominated possession with a staggering 78% and led 26-3 in shots on goal, yet still failed to avoid defeat. Arsenal's expected goals (xG) stood at 2.21, but they managed to breach the Fleetwood goal guarded by Jay Lynch only once.

Arsenal, which started with Viktor Gyokeres leading the line alongside Kai Havertz and Martin Zubimendi, launched early attacks but actually conceded the opening goal in the 21st minute of the first half.

Aaron Lupalo, who won a duel against an opposing defender, evaded a tackle and struck the ball with his left foot from the left side of the penalty area, sending it into the Arsenal net.

Struck by the early goal, Arsenal pressed hard but did not equalize until the fifth minute of the second half, when Gyokeres finished a cross in a scramble at the edge of the box to level the score.

However, Arsenal's attempts to take the lead were repeatedly thwarted. Worse still, in the 40th minute of the second half, Max Dowman, who had started the match and was born in 2009, received a red card and was sent off for kicking an opponent with his knee after making a rough tackle, leaving Arsenal a man down.

In the penalty shootout, which began with Fleetwood Town taking the first kick, fortunes diverged at the fourth kicker. Bruno Gimaraes' shot from Arsenal was saved by the goalkeeper. All five Fleetwood Town players converted their penalties, writing a new and emotional chapter in club history.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original