- The Arsenal manager expressed his disappointment after Fleetwood Town knocked the Gunners out.
- The League Two side held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw before winning 5-3 in the penalty shootout.
- Arteta defended his players’ attitude but said Arsenal failed to convert their dominance and numerous chances.
Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal had suffered a “very sad day” after the Premier League champions were knocked out of the EFL Cup by fourth-tier Fleetwood Town in a stunning fourth-round upset on Tuesday.
Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw in normal time before losing 5-3 on penalties at Highbury Stadium, handing Fleetwood one of the biggest surprises in the competition’s history. The Gunners dominated possession and created several opportunities but failed to turn their superiority into a decisive result.
“First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood for going through the next round. The manner that they have done it, and for us a very sad day,” Arteta said after the defeat.
ALSO READ: Kylian Mbappe’s Mao Remark Sparks Controversy In China, Three Brand Deals Reportedly Cancelled
The Arsenal manager insisted that his players had shown the right attitude and determination, even after being reduced to 10 men late in the match. However, he acknowledged that missed chances and a poor defensive moment had proved costly.
“There is nothing to criticise the players for their attitude, their application. The determination, you could see that was there from the start, even with 10 men. But we conceded a really poor goal to start with that gave them some momentum,” he added.
Fleetwood Stun Arsenal In Penalty Shootout
Fleetwood took a surprise lead in the 21st minute when Aaron Loupalo-Bi found the net, giving the League Two side a significant boost against their illustrious opponents.
🗞️ Dealing with the result 🗞️ Our committed away following 🗞️ How we bounce back Mikel's quotes to the press after full-time 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 28, 2026
Arsenal responded shortly after the restart, with Viktor Gyokeres equalising in the 50th minute. The visitors subsequently pushed for a winner but could not find a way past Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch, who made crucial saves to keep his side in the contest.
Arsenal’s task became more difficult when teenage forward Max Dowman was sent off in the closing stages following an altercation with Fleetwood’s Harrison Neal.
Recommended For You
With the scores level, the tie went to penalties. Arsenal converted their first three attempts through Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Gyokeres, but Lynch saved Bruno Guimaraes’ effort.
Conor Haughey then converted Fleetwood’s decisive penalty to seal a 5-3 shootout victory and send the hosts into the quarter-finals.
Arteta Admits Arsenal Failed To Capitalise
Despite Arsenal’s dominance in possession and attacking opportunities, Arteta felt his side had not done enough to avoid the lottery of a penalty shootout.
“Obviously we have so much of the ball, so many chances, so many shots, and if you want the margins to be bigger than going to the penalties, you need to capitalise on that. And we didn't,” the Spaniard said.
💬 “They are always with us.” Mikel praises your outstanding support 👏
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 28, 2026
He added: “It's football, that's the beauty of this competition. It's a very sad day.”
Arteta also made it clear that the result was a painful one for the club, stressing the responsibility that comes with representing Arsenal.
“Zero problem attitude-wise. Otherwise, I would be here absolutely fuming. I'm sad, I think we are all sad. We have a massive responsibility to carry this badge in the best possible way,” he said.
“You don't capitalise, then you cannot go through to the next round. Unfortunately, we are out.”