Arsenal face Fleetwood Town in Carabao Cup fourth round

Mikel Arteta's side will play League Two side Fleetwood Town after beating Everton and Ipswich, with a quarter‑final place at stake.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 27 Oct 2026 20:24:12 GMT

Arsenal travel to Highbury, Lancashire, on the evening of 27 Oct 2026 for a Carabao Cup fourth‑round match against League Two side Fleetwood Town, according to both the Independent and the Standard.

What happened

Arsenal entered the tie after a 4‑2 victory over Ipswich Town in the third round, a match in which 16‑year‑old Max Dowman scored twice and was named player of the week. The Gunners, who have won 11 of 13 games across all competitions this season, also defeated Everton in the Premier League on the weekend prior to the Fleetwood game. Fleetwood, sitting 18th in League Two, have reached this stage for the first time in club history, having not conceded a goal in the three matches that took them to the fourth round.

What the reports add

The Independent notes that Arsenal will rotate their squad ahead of a Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday, while the Standard highlights that the match offers Arsenal a chance to avoid a repeat of last season’s cup final defeat. Both outlets state that Max Dowman is expected to start, with the Independent adding that Illan Meslier and Ceadach O'Neill are also set for first‑team debuts. The Standard mentions that Arsenal will make several changes for the fourth game in nine days.

What was said

Mikel Arteta warned his players that “our reputation, our pride, everything is in play,” as reported by the Independent. The Standard records Arteta’s reminder to avoid complacency against Fleetwood, noting his own experience of a cup upset in 2012.

How it came about

Arsenal’s progression to this tie follows their third‑round win over Ipswich Town, a match in which Dowman’s double secured a 4‑2 result. The club’s recent unbeaten run across all competitions reached five games after beating Everton, as detailed by the Standard. Fleetwood’s historic run to the fourth round, achieved without conceding a goal, was highlighted in the Standard’s build‑up. Felo’s earlier coverage of the Carabao Cup draw on 26 Oct 2026 (carabao-cup-draw-oct-28-2026) set the stage for the fourth‑round fixtures, including this Arsenal‑Fleetwood clash.

Key facts

Arsenal will play Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup fourth round on 27 Oct 2026. (independent.co.uk)
Max Dowman is expected to start for Arsenal. (standard.co.uk)
Arsenal beat Ipswich Town 4‑2 in the third round, with Dowman scoring twice. (independent.co.uk)
Fleetwood Town are 18th in League Two and have not conceded a goal in the competition so far. (standard.co.uk)