Arsenal eliminated from Carabao Cup by League Two Fleetwood Town

League Two club Fleetwood Town eliminated Premier League team Arsenal from the last-16 of the Carabao Cup, BBC News and the Daily Mail reported. The match featured a red card, a penalty shootout, and a drone at Highbury Stadium, according to BBC News and the Daily Mail. [1][2][4]

Sixteen-year-old Arsenal player Max Dowman was sent off in the closing stages of the fourth round tie, the Daily Mail reported. The red card occurred after Dowman reacted to a sliding challenge from Fleetwood player Harrison Neal by appearing to kick out at him, which ignited a melee, according to the Daily Mail. [2]

Following the dismissal, camera footage showed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta walking towards Dowman as he left the pitch and sternly addressing the teenager, the Daily Mail reported. Sky Sports, The Telegraph, the London Evening Standard, Football London, and The Mirror all reported that Arteta subsequently explained his reaction and spoke about the sending off. [2][5][6][7][8][9]

Prior to the match, the Daily Mail reported that 18-year-old Ceadach O'Neill was vying to make his competitive debut for Arsenal. O'Neill is part of a UK-focused academy recruitment strategy that Arsenal initiated in 2024 following Brexit rules, according to the Daily Mail. [3]