Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has urged his teammates to put their humiliating Carabao Cup elimination behind them and respond positively against Liverpool after the Premier League champions suffered a stunning penalty shootout defeat to fourth-tier Fleetwood Town.
The Gunners were eliminated from the competition on Tuesday night after Fleetwood secured a 5-3 victory on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Highbury Stadium. The result delivered one of the most remarkable upsets of this season’s competition and left Mikel Arteta’s side facing immediate questions about their performance.
Ødegaard, who entered the match at half-time, admitted that Arsenal had fallen below their usual standards and insisted that the players must take responsibility rather than dwell on the disappointment.
“It’s very frustrating to go out,” the Norwegian midfielder said. “Obviously, the way we’ve played was not on the level. We need to do much, much better than we did today.”
The Arsenal captain acknowledged Fleetwood’s achievement but maintained that his team had contributed significantly to its own downfall through an underwhelming performance.
“They did well so we have to give them credit, but I think today was about us not being on our level, we need to do better,” he added.
The defeat came at an inconvenient time for Arsenal, who must quickly recover before travelling to face Liverpool in a crucial Premier League fixture at Anfield on Sunday.
Arsenal entered the cup tie as favourites against their League Two opponents, but their performance failed to reflect the difference in status between the two clubs. Arteta made nine changes to his starting lineup, providing opportunities to several squad players, yet his team struggled to establish control during the opening half.
Fleetwood took advantage of Arsenal’s disjointed display when Aaron Loupalo-Bi opened the scoring in the 21st minute. The goal gave the hosts belief and energised their supporters, who witnessed their team compete against the reigning Premier League champions.
Arsenal improved after the interval, particularly following Ødegaard’s introduction. The midfielder helped his side move the ball more effectively and increase the pressure on Fleetwood’s defence.
The visitors eventually restored parity through Viktor Gyökeres, who scored after the break to make it 1-1 and revive Arsenal’s hopes of avoiding an embarrassing elimination.
Despite their improved second-half performance, Arsenal could not find a decisive winner. Several opportunities went begging, allowing Fleetwood to remain in the contest until the final whistle.
The situation became more difficult for the Gunners when teenage forward Max Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute. The dismissal reduced Arsenal to 10 players during the closing stages and gave Fleetwood further encouragement as the match moved towards penalties.
Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch then emerged as one of the night’s outstanding performers. He saved Bruno Guimarães’ penalty during the shootout, putting the home side in a commanding position.
Teenage defender Conor Haughey subsequently stepped forward and converted the decisive kick, sealing a 5-3 shootout victory and sending Fleetwood into the quarter-finals.
The celebrations among Fleetwood’s players and supporters contrasted sharply with the disappointment in the Arsenal camp. For the smaller club, eliminating one of English football’s biggest teams represented a historic achievement. For Arsenal, it was an opportunity lost to progress in a competition they reached the final of last season.
Ødegaard made it clear that Arsenal could not afford to allow the setback to affect their preparations for the weekend.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We need to move on,” he said. “We have a big game at the weekend, so bouncing back at the weekend is all we can do now.”
His comments underline the importance of an immediate response, particularly with the Premier League title race becoming increasingly demanding.
Arsenal had drawn level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table after their previous league fixture, leaving them with an important opportunity to maintain their position among the title contenders.
The upcoming meeting with Liverpool will therefore provide a significant test of the team’s ability to recover from disappointment. A positive result at Anfield would help restore confidence, while another below-par performance could intensify scrutiny of Arteta’s selection decisions and the depth of his squad.
The defeat also raises questions about Arsenal’s attacking efficiency. Although the visitors improved after the break and created opportunities, their inability to score a second goal allowed Fleetwood to remain competitive until the shootout.
Arteta acknowledged the disappointment of the elimination but congratulated Fleetwood for their achievement. The Arsenal manager also recognised that his side had failed to make the most of its opportunities despite enjoying periods of pressure.
For Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor and his players, the victory represented a memorable moment in the club’s history. Their disciplined defensive performance, combined with Lynch’s penalty saves and the composure of their penalty takers, allowed them to overcome opponents with considerably greater resources and experience.
Arsenal must now redirect their attention towards their remaining competitions, including the Premier League and their other cup commitments. The Carabao Cup exit removes one potential route to silverware, but the club’s wider ambitions remain dependent on how effectively the squad responds over the coming weeks.
Ødegaard’s message was straightforward: Arsenal must acknowledge their shortcomings, learn from the defeat and focus on the next challenge.
The captain’s words will now need to be backed up on the pitch. With Liverpool awaiting them at Anfield, Arsenal have little time to recover from the shock of their Fleetwood defeat and demonstrate that the result was an isolated setback rather than a sign of deeper problems.
