Fleetwood Town v Arsenal: League Two side host Premier League leaders in first-ever meeting in Carabao Cup

Fleetwood Town will host Arsenal for the first time in their history on Tuesday night when the Carabao Cup fourth round brings the Premier League pacesetters to the Lancashire coast. The game at Highbury Stadium kicks off at 8pm in the UK, which is 4am on Wednesday 28 October in Malaysia. Fleetwood sit 18th in League Two, three divisions below an Arsenal side who are level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

Fleetwood's historic run

This is the furthest Fleetwood have ever gone in the League Cup. Matt Lawlor's side reached the fourth round for the first time by knocking out Championship club Sheffield United 1-0 in round three, a result that capped an unbeaten start to their season.

League form has since dipped. Fleetwood have lost five of their seven league matches since that cup win, including a 2-1 defeat at Exeter City at the weekend. Their recent five-game league sequence reads one win, one draw and three defeats.

The hosts will be without Lewis McCann, who is suspended after picking up a second yellow card in the competition, and Kane Thompson-Sommers is injured. Rhys Bennett is available again after serving a ban, and veteran striker Ched Evans has three goals in three appearances.

Arsenal expected to rotate

Arsenal arrive in good league form after a 2-0 home win over Everton on Saturday, which moved them level with City after City lost for the first time this season at Aston Villa. They reached this stage by beating Premier League rivals Ipswich Town 4-2, a game in which teenager Max Dowman scored twice.

Mikel Arteta is expected to make wholesale changes for the trip north. Kepa Arrizabalaga is in line to replace David Raya in goal, while Dowman is expected to start again. Martin Zubimendi and Cristhian Mosquera could also feature, with Mosquera set for his first appearance since August. Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Christos Tzolis are sidelined through injury.

A competition Arteta has yet to win

The League Cup remains one of the few domestic trophies to have eluded Arteta in north London. Arsenal have lost two semi-finals under the Spaniard and were beaten by Manchester City in last season's final, so a deep run this season would be welcome.

That history is likely to shape how seriously Arsenal treat the tie even with a much-changed team. For Fleetwood, the occasion is a chance to test themselves against one of the strongest squads in England in front of a home crowd, regardless of the outcome.

Where it fits in the round

Fleetwood v Arsenal is one of eight fourth-round ties this week. The others are Manchester City v Brighton, Everton v Newcastle United, Sunderland v Brentford, Liverpool v Chelsea, Bradford City v Peterborough United, Fulham v Crystal Palace and Bournemouth v Aston Villa. With Bradford and Peterborough meeting each other, at least one club from outside the Premier League is guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals.

Key takeaways

• Fleetwood v Arsenal kicks off at 8pm UK time on Tuesday, 4am Wednesday in Malaysia.
• It is the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.
• Fleetwood are 18th in League Two and reached round four for the first time by beating Sheffield United.
• Arsenal are expected to rotate, with Kepa and Max Dowman tipped to start.
• Saka, Saliba and Tzolis are out injured for Arsenal; McCann is suspended for Fleetwood.

FAQ

What time is Fleetwood v Arsenal in Malaysia? Kick-off is 4am on Wednesday 28 October, Malaysia time (8pm Tuesday in the UK).

Have Fleetwood and Arsenal played before? No. This Carabao Cup tie is the first meeting between the two clubs.

How did Arsenal reach the fourth round? They beat Ipswich Town 4-2 in the third round, with Max Dowman scoring twice.

Sources: Sports Illustrated, TribalFootball, Fan Banter