Drone delays Arsenal-Fleetwood Carabao Cup last-16 match

A drone over Highbury Stadium delayed Arsenal's Carabao Cup last‑16 tie with Fleetwood Town for more than eight minutes.

Referee Michael Salisbury stopped play with 1 minute 40 seconds remaining in the first half, consulted the managers and staff on both benches, and awaited police investigation.

Police later located the drone operator, and the match resumed with ten minutes left on the clock. Players kept the ball moving to stay warm while spectators booed. After the teams were instructed to approach the touchline, the drone drifted away, allowing play to continue. The device subsequently fell to the ground in a nearby housing estate.

"What a shame this has happened. This is the most high‑profile game in the club's history. In terms of the profile and the revenue, it's so lucrative," Ian Dennis said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Seven minutes of stoppage time were added to the end of the first half because of the interruption. The Football Association's guidance states that a referee should stop the game when a drone is sighted and advise both captains that play will not resume until the drone has left the vicinity, with further steps if it does not.

The BBC has approached the English Football League for comment.