Fleetwood boss praises Arteta's tunnel class after Arsenal's Carabao Cup penalty exit

Mikel Arteta shook Matt Lawlor’s hand “two or three times” and offered warm words to the Fleetwood Town manager in the tunnel after Arsenal were eliminated from the Carabao Cup on penalties at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday evening, with the League One side completing one of the competition’s most striking upsets in recent memory.

Fleetwood took a surprise lead in the 21st minute when a defensive error allowed Aaron Loupalo-Bi to convert, and although Viktor Gyokeres equalised early in the second half to level for the Premier League champions, the Cod Army held firm. The tie was further complicated in the 85th minute when Arsenal teenager Max Dowman was shown a straight red card following an altercation with Harrison Neal, with Arteta reportedly exchanging words with the player as he left the pitch.

The shootout proved decisive. Bruno Guimaraes had his effort saved, and Conor Haughey stepped up to convert the winning penalty, sending five perfect kicks past the Arsenal goalkeeper and knocking the reigning English champions out of the tournament.

Lawlor was effusive in his praise for how Arteta handled the defeat. “He shook my hand two or three times and he was really, really gracious. I can imagine it’s a really disappointing night for him,” the Fleetwood manager said. “But the way that he acted there, with class, is amazing. I would love to catch up with him and pick his brains.”

Lawlor added that the two managers had not managed a longer conversation amid the post-match chaos, but noted that Arteta had taken time to acknowledge Fleetwood’s performance. “He said well done in the tunnel briefly and how well we did, which is obviously a show of class from him.”

Arteta himself was measured and generous in his post-match press conference. “First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood — in the manner they did it, the atmosphere they created,” he said. “I have nothing to fault the players for their attitude and intensity throughout the game, with 11 and with 10, but when you are playing in that superior way, you have to give nothing to the opponent. When we create the volume of shots and chances we did, you have to score three, four or five. You capitalise on it. If you don’t, there are no margins.”

The result ends Arsenal’s involvement in the Carabao Cup at the fourth-round stage and represents a landmark night for Fleetwood, who advance to the last eight of the competition for the first time.