Arsenal and Fleetwood Town name starting XI for Carabao Cup tie

Arsenal and Fleetwood Town name starting XI for Carabao Cup tie

October 27, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has named nine changes for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium, handing senior debuts to goalkeeper Illan Meslier and 18-year-old Northern Ireland international Ceadach O’Neill.

Lineup and Debutants at Highbury Stadium

Arsenal’s starting XI features Illan Meslier in goal behind a backline consisting of Jurrien Timber at right-back, teenager Marli Salmon, Cristhian Mosquera, and Piero Hincapie, according to the official club lineup. Martin Zubimendi partners with Myles Lewis-Skelly in central midfield. Ceadach O’Neill occupies the wing opposite fellow teenager Max Dowman, who earned player of the round honors following an earlier appearance against Ipswich Town. Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres complete the attacking selection for the visitors.

Fleetwood Town’s manager Matt Lawlor has selected a starting side featuring Lynch in goal, backed by a defensive unit of Rooney, Bennett, and Potter. Haughey, McLean, Neal, Helm, and Batty form the midfield, with Loupalo-Bi and Evans leading the attack.

Sell-Out Crowd Generates 400,000 Pounds for Fleetwood Town

The fixture marks Fleetwood Town’s first appearance in the Carabao Cup fourth round, bringing a sell-out crowd to Highbury Stadium for the first time in over a decade. The encounter is projected to generate approximately £400,000 for the League Two club. Fleetwood reached this stage following three previous tournament victories, including a 1-0 win over Chesterfield via Ched Evans, a 4-0 defeat of Shrewsbury Town, and a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United settled by a Rhys Norrington-Davies own goal.

Domestically, Fleetwood enters the match positioned 18th in League Two after dropping five of their last seven fixtures, including a 2-1 defeat to Exeter City. Lawlor acknowledged the financial and historic significance of hosting Premier League opposition while addressing his squad’s recent league inconsistency.

Arteta Warns Squad Against Repeating 2012 Bradford City Defeat

Ahead of kickoff, Mikel Arteta issued a stern caution to his squad, emphasizing that elite standards must not drop despite facing lower-league opposition. The Arsenal manager referenced the club's 2012 quarter-final penalty shootout defeat to Bradford City under Arsene Wenger to show the risks inherent in domestic cup competitions.

“Our reputation, our pride, everything is in play,” Arteta stated. Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor similarly noted the dynamic surrounding the fixture, stating that his players must embrace the occasion without excessive apprehension against the Premier League visitors.

Team news: Dowman starts as two make debuts
Photo: Arsenal.com

Following Tuesday’s Carabao Cup commitments, Arsenal’s schedule shifts toward a domestic Premier League test.

Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.

More on Arsenal: Arsenal face Bayern Munich with Mikel Arteta potentially absent

More on Carabao Cup

Fleetwood Town VS Arsenal

More on this