Fleetwood’s response to drawing Champions Arsenal within the Carabao Cup
Arsenal will return to Highbury – but not as they know it – as the League 2 club celebrated the glamour tie. It came after they beat Sheffield United with a 1-0 victory
Fleetwood celebrated getting Arsenal(Image: @ftfc/X)
Fleetwood Town celebrated as they were handed a dream tie against Premier League Champions Arsenal.
Footage from the club shows the players and families all gathered together in the clubhouse up north as the draw was made. It took place after the Cod Army reached the fourth round of the competition for the first time in the club’s history with a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United on Wednesday night (September 16).
Their reward is a glamour clash against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side, who booked their place in the next round with a 4-2 win over Ipswich Town. The fixture will bring one of the biggest names in English football to Highbury Stadium, with Fleetwood now just one match away from a potential quarter-final place.
They eagerly awaited the news of who they would play(Image: @ftfc/X)
Footage posted by the club shows the build up to the draw, with one shouting that they wanted Liverpool as they waited in anticipation.
Fleetwood were drawn as the home team in the draw, and the fans waited patiently for the away team announcement. And as the away team were announced as Arsenal a giant cheer resounded around the room.
Two EFL sides are now guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals, with League One clubs Bradford City and Peterborough United set to meet after overcoming Leyton Orient and Barnsley respectively.
The players celebrated the tie with fans(Image: @ftfc/X)
The remaining fourth-round ties see Fulham host Crystal Palace, Bournemouth take on Aston Villa, Brentford travel to Sunderland and Everton welcome Newcastle United and will take place during the week commencing October 26, with Fleetwood fans now eagerly awaiting one of the biggest cup nights in the club’s history.
Manager Matt Lawlor said it will be a “special occasion” for the players, staff and supporters, but insists Town’s immediate attention remains on Saturday’s league trip to Barnet.
“It’s the ultimate test,” Lawlor said. “It’ll be a major reward for the players and a really amazing reward for the club as well. The amount of work that’s been put in since the start of pre-season has been club-wide, let alone just the team.
Martin Zubimendi during the Carabao Cup Third Round game against Ipswich(Image: 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)
“It’s something we’re all looking forward to. It’s full steam ahead in terms of Barnet, but this is an amazing reward for us all.” The players shared the excitement of the draw with supporters in Jim’s Bar, at the club.
“I think all the boys were together over in Jim’s Bar,” the Head Coach explained. “The club came up with the slogan about being ‘More Fleetwood’, and they were in there afterwards with all the Fleetwood fans getting the Arsenal news. There was a lot of excitement, but there’s still a job to be done on Saturday.”
The tie also brings together two clubs connected by the Highbury name, something Lawlor revealed had made the draw particularly pleasing for the club’s ownership.
“I think the chairman was really, really happy,” he continued. “Jamie was saying it’s a tie he’s always wanted, Arsenal coming to our Highbury.”
