By Fatma Younis
League Two side Fleetwood Town knocked out Premier League champions Arsenal on penalties in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, sparking wild celebrations in the Lancashire fishing town. The 5,300-capacity Highbury Stadium hosted a match that ended 1-1 after 90 minutes before Fleetwood won the shootout 5-4, eliminating the Champions League finalists 84 places above them in the football pyramid.
Historic ties between clubs
The two clubs share an unlikely history: Fleetwood's ground is also named Highbury, after the adjoining Highbury Avenue, and the team plays in red shirts with white sleeves mirroring Arsenal's classic kit. According to local lore, Arsenal donated Fleetwood's first ever home kit, and in the 2000s Fleetwood had a Brazilian striker named Magno Vieira, a namesake of former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira.
Celebrations in the fishing town
Festivities continued until about 1:30am at the stadium bar, with fans, players and staff mingling after the dramatic shootout. Club retail manager Zsofia Wright described the atmosphere as "incredible" and said the town was abuzz the next morning. Pubs that usually struggle stayed open late, and the club shop saw a surge in sales of half-and-half Fleetwood-Arsenal scarves.
Boost for local businesses
Residents expressed disbelief and pride. Sharon Brooks, visiting a fishmonger with her Arsenal-supporting son Ryan, said: "We thought it'd be three, four or five nil, but they did so well." Retired crane operator Garry Gill predicted other teams would now be "frightened" of visiting Fleetwood. Fan Paul Dagger, who lost a £200 bet on Arsenal, called the result "fantastic for the town" which he noted is full of charity and vape shops.
Looking ahead to next round
Locals eagerly awaited Wednesday night's draw for the next round. Donald Maclean, who missed the match due to work, said he was "over the moon" after seeing the highlights. Arsenal's travelling fans reportedly enjoyed their visit, marveling at pint prices of £2.20 compared to £8 at the Emirates. The Cod Army, as Fleetwood are nicknamed, hope the victory brings sustained attendance and revenue through the season.
