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Arsenal fans in MELTDOWN after greatest League Cup upset ever: Piers Morgan hits out at ‘thuggish’ Fleetwood star’s ‘career-ending’ tackle on Max Dowman while one fan claims the pitch was too SHORT

Arsenal fans have expressed their anger at the manner of their shock Carabao Cup exit, with fans venting their frustration at how Max Dowman was sent off to the pitch dimensions.

By LUKE AUGUSTUS · Daily Mail

Published: Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at 9:02 AM

Key Things to Know

Arsenal fans expressed outrage following a shock Carabao Cup fourth-round penalty shootout loss to Fleetwood Town.
Fleetwood defeated Arsenal 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular time.
Arsenal's 16-year-old Max Dowman received a red card for reacting aggressively to a tackle by Harrison Neal.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Arsenal supporters and prominent fans have reacted with outrage following the club's Carabao Cup fourth-round exit to League Two side Fleetwood Town on Tuesday. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, Arsenal were eliminated 5-3 on penalties. The match also saw 16-year-old Arsenal player Max Dowman sent off late in the game after reacting angrily to a heavy challenge by Fleetwood midfielder Harrison Neal.

Piers Morgan publicly defended Dowman on X, criticizing Neal's tackle as thuggish and arguing the teenager should not be blamed for the team's defeat. Meanwhile, contributors on AFTV expressed fury over the refereeing and aggressive tackles, with one fan also citing Highbury Stadium's slightly shorter pitch dimensions as a contributing factor to the upset.

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