Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal: Carabao Cup Preview, Team News, Lineups and Stats

Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal takes place at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, with kick-off at 20:00 UTC/GMT. The Carabao Cup fourth-round tie is the first competitive meeting between the clubs, with the winner advancing to the quarter-finals.

Fleetwood have reached the League Cup fourth round for the first time in their history and have not conceded in the competition this season. Arsenal reached this stage by beating Ipswich Town 4-2 in round three, when 16-year-old Max Dowman scored twice.

For changing Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal live scores, lineups and match statistics, follow SP Score once the matchday data is available.

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Fleetwood arrive in round four after eliminating Chesterfield, Shrewsbury Town and Sheffield United without conceding. Their 1-0 win over Sheffield United took the Cod Army into the fourth round for the first time in the club’s League Cup history.

Arsenal entered in round three and won 4-2 away to Ipswich Town. Dowman’s two goals earned him the Carabao Cup Player of the Round award, while Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino also scored at Portman Road.

The contrast is clear: Fleetwood are a League Two side hosting the reigning Premier League champions, but knockout football reduces the contest to one match at Highbury Stadium. Arsenal reached the Carabao Cup final last season and are trying to return to the latter stages of the competition.

Fleetwood’s confirmed starting XI has not yet been released. Their cup run has been built on three clean sheets, including the third-round win over Sheffield United in which goalkeeper Jay Lynch made important late saves.

The official team sheet should be used for any late fitness changes. Pre-match discussion has focused on whether Fleetwood can reproduce the organisation and togetherness that carried them through the previous rounds rather than on a projected starting XI.

Arsenal are expected to make selection decisions around a congested domestic and European schedule, but any rotated XI remains unconfirmed until the club publishes the team sheet. The previous Carabao Cup round showed the depth available to Mikel Arteta, with Dowman, Marli Salmon and other younger players receiving significant minutes.

Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Christos Tzolis were unavailable for Arsenal’s most recent Premier League match against Everton, while Piero Hincapié had returned to contention. Their status for Fleetwood should be checked against Arsenal’s final matchday update rather than assumed from the previous fixture.

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Fleetwood have not conceded in three Carabao Cup matches this season. That defensive record is the clearest evidence of how they have progressed, and it will be tested by an Arsenal squad with Premier League and Champions League attacking options.

Rotation is a major matchday question because Arsenal have league, European and cup commitments close together. The Ipswich tie showed Arteta can change personnel without abandoning the team’s attacking structure, but the official lineup will determine how much experience and youth starts at Highbury.

Arsenal have advanced in eight of nine previous League Cup ties against clubs from the fourth tier. The exception came against Bradford City in 2012/13, when the Gunners were eliminated on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

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Confirmed lineups are normally published closer to kick-off. Once the teams are announced, use the official club channels and SP Score to check the starting XIs, substitutes, score, match events and changing statistics.

For the changing match information, follow Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal on SP Score. For broader football coverage, visit SportPesa Global football.

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In the United Kingdom, the EFL has scheduled the match on Sky Sports Football. Broadcast rights differ by country, so viewers outside the UK should check the licensed Carabao Cup broadcaster in their market rather than assuming the UK service is available globally.

Tuesday, 27 October 2026.

Kick-off is at 20:00 UTC/GMT, which is also 20:00 UK time on the match date.

Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood, Lancashire.

It is a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

No. The EFL records this as the first competitive meeting between the clubs.

Not yet at the time of publication. The official starting XIs should be added only after both clubs announce them.

Use SP Score for available live scores, lineups, match events and statistics.

Michael Salisbury is the referee, assisted by Matthew Wilkes and Alex James, with Lewis Smith as fourth official.

Fleetwood Town vs Arsenal brings together a League Two side making club history and an Arsenal team trying to reach another Carabao Cup quarter-final. Fleetwood have progressed without conceding, while Arsenal arrive after a 4-2 third-round win at Ipswich and with significant squad depth available.

Kick-off is at 20:00 UTC/GMT on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. Check SP Score for confirmed lineups, the live score and match events, and follow SportPesa Global football coverage for more fixtures, team news and match guides.

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