League Two side Fleetwood Town defeated Premier League champions Arsenal 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Highbury Stadium, reaching the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

Fulham loanee Aaron Loupalo-Bi put Fleetwood ahead after 21 minutes, and Viktor Gyokeres bundled in his first goal of the season from teenager Ceadach O'Neill's cross in the 50th minute.

Bruno Guimaraes had his spot kick saved by Jay Lynch, and 19-year-old defender Conor Haughey lashed home the winning penalty to spark a pitch invasion.

Eighty-four places separate the clubs in the English football pyramid, and ESPN reports it is the first time reigning Premier League champions have been knocked out of the League Cup by a fourth-tier side. Fleetwood were +1500 to advance, according to DraftKings figures cited by ESPN.

Paul Merson told Sky Sports it was 'the biggest shock in the history of the League Cup,' while Fleetwood's players said they drew inspiration from fourth-tier Grimsby Town's win over Manchester United last season.

Sixteen-year-old Max Dowman was sent off five minutes from time after reacting to a heavy challenge from Harrison Neal, making a movement with his leg that gave referee Michael Salisbury a decision to make. It was his second red card this month, having also been dismissed for England U19s.

Arteta gave the winger a scathing look and angry words on his way down the tunnel, later saying it was 'something that we discussed already before the match.' Merson argued on Sky Sports that Arteta would not have reacted that way to an experienced international like Gyokeres.

The tie barely survived its opening moments: a drone hovering over Highbury forced a stoppage of roughly eight minutes with under two minutes on the clock.

Arsenal finished with 26 shots and 78% possession, per the BBC, but Kai Havertz missed a series of chances and Myles Lewis-Skelly could not finish from close range.

Goalkeeper Jay Lynch then made huge late saves from Ben White and Martin Odegaard to force the shootout, where Fleetwood were perfect from the spot.

Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor called it 'the biggest night in the club's history in terms of opposition coming to town' and revealed his side had not practised penalties at all.

A non-league club as recently as 2012, and famous as Jamie Vardy's launching pad, Fleetwood sit 18th in League Two but have now won four straight shootouts, converting their last 16 spot kicks, according to Daily Mail data from its live blog.

The result ends Arsenal's League Cup wait that stretches 33 years since 1993.

Arteta declined to blame his players' mentality, saying he could not fault their attitude or application but that Arsenal failed to capitalise on dominance.

The defeat compounds a squad problem: with Dowman suspended, Bukayo Saka out for around six weeks, Christos Tzolis working back and Noni Madueke injured, Arsenal's wide options look slim for Sunday's match against Liverpool.