Arsenal suffered a shock exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Fleetwood Town, losing 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time at Highbury Stadium on 28 October 2026. The Gunners dominated possession with 78% and registered 26 shots but fell behind and could not find a winner before the shootout.
The match turned in the 85th minute when 16-year-old winger Max Dowman was sent off for a reaction to a heavy challenge by Fleetwood's Harrison Neal. Dowman made a movement with his leg towards Neal, prompting referee Michael Salisbury to show a straight red card. It was Dowman's second dismissal this month, having also been sent off while playing for England Under-19s during the international break.
Manager Mikel Arteta gave Dowman a scathing look and exchanged words with the teenager as he left the pitch, later revealing the message was "something that we discussed already before the match." Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson criticised Arteta's public rebuke, saying: "You have to remember he is 16 years of age - he's a kid." Leon Osman, speaking on BBC 5 Live, attributed the red card to inexperience and said Dowman "can't have any complaints."
The tie began with an eight-minute delay after a drone was flown over the pitch. Arteta fielded an experimental side that included debutant Ceadach O'Neill (18), centre-back Marli Salmon (17), Dowman on the wing and goalkeeper Illan Meslier making his first start for the club. Experienced internationals Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres were also in the lineup, with captain Martin Odegaard and £75m signing Bruno Guimaraes introduced from the bench.
Fleetwood, who sit 84 places below Arsenal in the football pyramid, progressed to the quarter-finals. The result continues Arsenal's 33-year wait for a League Cup triumph; they previously lost to Bradford City on penalties in 2012 and to Sheffield Wednesday in 2015.
With Dowman now suspended, Bukayo Saka sidelined for around six weeks, Christos Tzolis and Noni Madueke both injured, Arsenal's wide options are severely limited ahead of their Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday.
