Drone stops Arsenal's cup tie, then shock exit
Arsenal's Carabao Cup match at Fleetwood was interrupted for eight minutes by an unauthorized drone, with the incident followed by a shock elimination.
Drone interrupts the match
In a bizarre turn of events, Arsenal's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Fleetwood Town was halted for eight minutes due to an unauthorized drone hovering over the pitch. The interruption happened in the opening stages of the game at Highbury Stadium, as reported by multiple outlets including BBC Sport and The Independent.
Referee's decision
During the delay, the referee, Michael Salisbury, instructed the players to leave the field, according to The Independent. The stoppage was described as bizarre by the Evening Standard, and it took place shortly after the match had begun.
A sharp reaction from the stands
Le Parisien reported the incident with a quote, translated into English as “Who's the moron with his drone?” though the identity of the person who made the remark was not disclosed in the sources. The interruption drew attention from various media across Europe, with outlets in the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Portugal, and France all covering the disruption.
A shocking downfall
After the resumption of play, Fleetwood, a fourth-tier side, took the lead in the 21st minute, as stated by Foot Mercato. The match eventually concluded with Arsenal's elimination, an outcome described by Express as the “biggest sensation in League Cup history.” The exact final score was not provided in the sources. Arsenal's cup campaign has come to an end, a result that surprised many observers.
