Given their league positions, form and pedigree, there could surely only have been one winner.

Fleetwood played Arsenal on Tuesday with an 84-place gulf between the teams and most home fans arriving in hope rather than expectation. But remarkably, it was the hosts who booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final thanks to their penalty shootout win over the Gunners.

For the side known as the Cod Army, who won six promotions in 12 years in an impressive journey from non-league, this result will surely be remembered longest of all. Against the reigning Premier League champions, the club from a small seaside town in Lancashire created history in claiming one of the biggest cup upsets ever.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave the hosts the lead after 21 minutes but, after the break, Viktor Gyokeres pulled the visitors level.

And from there, they might have been expected to take charge, but Fleetwood remained resolute, prospering from a wasteful performance from Arsenal that included Max Dowman being sent off for…