Arsenal return to Highbury Stadium twenty years after their departure from the venue, though this time their destination is Fleetwood Town’s home ground for a fourth-round EFL Cup tie. Mikel Arteta’s side heads into the fixture following a comfortable 2-0 victory over Everton in the Premier League, courtesy of an opening goal from Ezri Konsa. That result extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run in October to five matches, leaving them level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
In the third round of the EFL Cup, Arsenal demonstrated their attacking depth by sweeping past Ipswich Town 4-2, establishing a four-goal cushion within sixty minutes anchored by a brace from young prospect Max Dowman. Despite boasting fourteen FA Cup titles, the club has endured a frustrating record in the League Cup, having not lifted the trophy since 1993. Their inability to win in the fourth round across three seasons (2015/16, 2019/20 and 2023/24) means Arteta is expected to approach the lower-league opposition with caution.
Fleetwood Town enter the fixture experiencing a cup run under manager Matt Lawley, having broken club records to reach the fourth round for the first time. The Cod Army built their advancement on a resolute defensive record, securing 1-0 wins against Chesterfield and Sheffield United alongside a 4-0 defeat of Shrewsbury Town without conceding a single goal in the tournament.
League Struggles Meet Cup Ambition at Highbury
While Fleetwood’s knockout form has drawn attention, their domestic League Two campaign has hit a difficult patch. Since their victory over Sheffield United, Lawley’s squad has slipped to 18th place in League Two following a 2-1 defeat to Exeter City, marking six losses across all competitions. Their primary reassurance stems from home form at Highbury, where they have suffered only one defeat in their last ten matches on their own turf.
Our historic Carabao Cup run continues against Arsenal. 🏆Town will host the Premier League winners in the fourth round, with the tie scheduled for the week commencing 26 October. pic.twitter.com/P7UjXSsdNj
The fixture presents a stark gulf in resources, player quality, and squad valuation between the two clubs. Tactical expectations point toward a resolute defensive block from the hosts, ceding possession and relying on counter-attacks while Arsenal dictate the tempo.
Team News and Projected Lineups
Arteta is expected to heavily rotate his squad ahead of an upcoming fixture against Liverpool. Defender Riccardo Calafiori sustained a minor issue during the win over Everton and will miss out, alongside Bukayo Saka and William Saliba. Winger Christos Solis has recovered from a hamstring injury, though coaching staff remain cautious about his immediate involvement.
For Fleetwood, manager Lawley must cope without midfielder Lewis McCann, who serves a suspension after collecting two yellow cards. Long-term absentee Kane Thompson-Sommers remains unavailable, though the hosts welcome back Andy Cannon and Riece Bennett. Captain Ched Evans leads the attacking line, having scored three goals in three EFL Cup appearances this season.
Fleetwood Town projected lineup: Lynch; Rooney, Bennett, Potter; Cirino, McLean, Neal, Helm, Andrew; Coughlan, Evans
Arsenal projected lineup: Kepa; Timber, Salmon, Mosquera, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly; Dowman, Merino, Eze; Harriman-Annous
