It’s a big night for League Two strugglers Fleetwood Town as they welcome Premier League champions Arsenal to their compact Highbury Stadium in the last 16 of the EFL Cup.
It’s the latest David vs. Goliath showdown with the cod army 84 places below gunners in the pyramid
Head of Fleetwood Matt Lawlorwhose side were beaten 2-1 at Exeter on Saturday and have lost five of their last seven league games, is relishing the challenge of facing Mikel Arteta’s men.
He said: “The champions are coming to town and they’re coming to our patch. The players need to be excited, not scared. Respect is through the roof, but fear can’t be through the roof.”
“We earned a game like this. We had to go through round after round of tough games, and none of them were easy. To get where we are, we deserve it.”
Fleetwood have reached the last 16 courtesy of wins over Chesterfield, Shrewsbury and Championship side Sheffield United.
Arsenal came into the match in fine form, beating Everton 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday and going unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions.
The visitors reached the fourth round with a 4–2 win at Ipswich Town in the third round, a game in which Max Dowman scored twice and was named Player of the Round.
Where to watch Fleetwood v Arsenal: TV channel, live streaming online
Kick-off on Tuesday is at 20:00 GMT (16:00 ET / 13:00 PT), with live UK coverage on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra.
road Now the televisionSky Sports costs £14.99 for a daily subscription, £27.99 a month for a 12-month subscription or £34.99 a month without a contract.
Fleetwood v Arsenal stats, recent form
- Fleetwood have reached the fourth round for the first time as part of their 15th EFL Cup campaign, with their previous best runs ending in the third round in 2022/23 and 2020/21.
- Town’s last two exits from the competition have come on penalties, losing 7-6 at Barnsley after a 2-2 first-round draw last season and 3-2 at Stoke City after their third-round tie ended 1-1 in 2024/25.
- Since losing 1-0 to Everton in the second round in August 2022, Fleetwood have won five consecutive EFL Cup home ties.
- After meetings with West Bromwich Albion and Rotherham United in 2023/24, both of which ended 2-1, they have kept clean sheets in all three EFL Cup ties at Highbury Stadium this season, beating Chesterfield and Sheffield United 1-0 either side of a 4-0 win against Shrewsbury Town.
- A 2-1 defeat at Rochdale in League Two on 26 September is Fleetwood’s only defeat in their last 12 home games in all competitions (W6 D5)
- Arsenal have won nine of their last 12 EFL Cup games, losing last season’s final against Manchester City and suffering two defeats against Newcastle in the 2024/25 semi-finals.
- Defeat to City extended their 33-year wait to lift the trophy for a third time, having triumphed in 1987 and 1993.
- Five of Arsenal’s last six defeats have come away from the Emirates Stadium, including a defeat against a side from a lower division than Championship club Southampton in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on April 4.
