Arsenal are out of the EFL Cup after losing a penalty shootout to League Two side Fleetwood Town, with Sky Sports forced into repeated apologies after match-winner Conor Haughey's X-rated post-match interview. The sides drew 1-1 at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday night before Fleetwood converted all five of their spot kicks, Jay Lynch saving Bruno Guimaraes' effort and Haughey striking the decisive penalty. All three papers—the Daily Star, the Mirror and the Daily Mail—call the outcome one of the competition's greatest shocks.

Fleetwood hold their nerve

Fulham loanee Aaron Loupalo-Bi put the home side ahead, and Viktor Gyokeres levelled for Arsenal in the second half. Mikel Arteta's side could not find a winner, and the tie went to penalties, where Fleetwood were flawless from the spot.

Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor said he had been preparing for extra time. "Someone told me it was penalties and I had a little sly grin to my face," he said, adding: "The biggest night in the club's history in terms opposition coming to town and we've managed to beat the champions somehow."

Goalkeeper Lynch, who also made saves during normal time, said the squad had taken encouragement from Grimsby's win over Manchester United last season. "We compared it even though these are the champions," he said. "To beat the English champions - credit to these lads."

Dowman sent off

According to the Daily Star and the Mirror, Arsenal's evening got worse late in the game when Max Dowman, 16, was dismissed for retaliating after a tackle, while Arteta was clearly enraged on the touchline.

The Daily Mail reports that the challenge on Dowman drew criticism from supporters, including Piers Morgan, who wrote on X: "No way is that a straight red." Morgan added that blaming a 16-year-old for the defeat was "ridiculous". AFTV regular Tai, speaking to the channel's YouTube show, called Fleetwood's challenges "disgusting" and said the youngster had reacted after seeing the tackle.

Sky Sports apologise

He continued: "Hit the top corner and run like f***." The Daily Mail reports that touchline reporter Juliette Ferrington apologised immediately and again at the end of the interview, with two further apologies issued back in the studio — four in total. The Daily Star, citing the Mirror, says the expletive prompted multiple apologies.

Haughey went on: "It's just a mad old night. He also said: "And the boys, I'm so proud of them, we stuck together." He said Fleetwood had "been through a rough patch in the league" and that the win showed "how good of a team we are", adding that the quarter-final draw would wait until after the celebrations.

Lawlor said he had told his players to enjoy the result despite a League Two fixture on Saturday. "I don't want to be the bearer of reality but we've got a game," he said.

Liverpool up next

Arsenal return to Premier League action on Sunday 1 November, facing Liverpool at Anfield at 16:30 UK time. Fleetwood, meanwhile, turn their attention to a League Two meeting with Bristol Rovers.

Photo: Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, resized.