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Mikel Arteta defended Arsenal’s players despite their shock 5-3 penalty shootout defeat to fourth-tier Fleetwood Town following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
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Arteta praised his players’ attitude and determination but admitted that their failure to convert numerous chances and conceding a poor goal contributed to the embarrassing League Cup exit.
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Young Arsenal star Max Dowman was sent off for violent conduct in the 84th minute, while Kai Havertz missed three big chances as the Gunners struggled to find a decisive second goal.
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Fleetwood Town coach Matt Lawlor described the victory as unbelievable, as his side made history by becoming the first fourth-tier club to eliminate reigning Premier League champions Arsenal from the League Cup.
October 28, (THEWILL) – Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has defended his players following the embarrassing 5-3 penalty shootout defeat to Fleetwood Town in the fourth round of the League Cup on Tuesday.
The Gunners crashed out of the competition after Bruno Guimaraes missed from the penalty spot following a 1-1 draw in the regulation time.
Young star Max Dowman was sent off for violent conduct in the 84th minute before the penalty shootout.
The Spanish manager made nine changes to the squad that defeated Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Despite the defeat, Arteta defended the players’ attitude, while praising Fleetwood Town for their battling performance.
He said: “First of all, congratulations to Fleetwood for going through to the next round. The manner in which they have done it, and for us a very sad day.
“There is nothing to criticise the players for their attitude, their application.
“The determination, you could see that was there from the start, even with 10 men. But we conceded a really poor goal to start with that gave them some momentum.
“Obviously we have so much of the ball, so many chances, so many shots, and if you want the margins to be bigger than going to the penalties, you need to capitalise on that. And we didn’t.
“It’s football, that’s the beauty of this competition. It’s a very sad day.”
Arteta also explained his reaction to Max Dowman’s red card after he was captured on camera remonstrating at the young star.
He said: “It was something that we discussed before the game. And even with 10 men, we had three big chances to score the second goal.
“We knew when we prepared the context of the match, we were very clear on the things to expect, the things that emotionally we have to dominate.”
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The Gunners paid the price for their lack of cutting edge with Kai Havertz missing three big chances.
Arsenal became the first reigning Premier League champions to be eliminated from the League Cup by a fourth-tier club.
In a related development, Fleetwood Town coach, Matt Lawlor, described the victory as unbelievable.
He said: “I just can’t believe it. The biggest night in the club’s history in terms of opposition coming to town and we’ve managed to beat the champions.
“We’re not stupid enough and not egotistical enough to think we’re going to out-play the best team in the country and the most organised team in the country.
“So we had to ride our luck, we had to deny space, we had to deny options for them. And I think we did that really, really well in terms of the majority of the game.
“I’m just so glad that the lads have the feeling the way they are and took that performance into making that town, the club, everyone proud.”
Fleetwood currently occupy the 18th position on the log in the English fourth division League, winning three, drawing five, and losing five.
