Arsenal youth team beat EFL side 25 places above Fleetwood on same night as Carabao Cup nightmare

Arsenal's Under-21s beat AFC Wimbledon 2-1 in the EFL Trophy on the same night the senior side lost to Fleetwood Town on penalties in the Carabao Cup.

Arsenal's Under-21 side enjoyed a successful evening in the EFL Trophy group stage, coming from behind to beat AFC Wimbledon 2-1 at the Cherry Red Records Stadium. Goals from Evan Mooney and Emerson Nwaneri secured the victory after Wimbledon had taken a second-half lead through Callum Maycock. The win sends Arsenal into the last 32 of the competition.

The positive result for the youth team contrasted sharply with the senior side's Carabao Cup exit earlier that evening. Mikel Arteta's first team were knocked out in the fourth round by League Two side Fleetwood Town, losing 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Highbury Stadium. Max Dowman was sent off late in the match.

Arsenal's Under-21 squad featured two players who have appeared for the first team this season—midfielders Theo Julienne and Ife Ibrahim, both 18, who came off the bench in the Carabao Cup third-round win over Ipswich Town. The Gunners have now reached the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy for the sixth time since Under-21 sides were introduced in 2016.