An unexpected airborne intrusion brought Arsenal's Carabao Cup last-16 tie against Fleetwood Town to a sudden halt, as the fixture at Highbury Stadium was delayed for more than eight minutes due to a drone flying over the venue. The EFL Cup contest had barely begun when the presence of the device overhead compelled match officials to intervene and temporarily pause the game.
The stoppage occurred remarkably early in the proceedings, with only one minute and 40 seconds showing on the clock. Arsenal were lined up and waiting to take a free-kick when referee Michael Salisbury observed the drone flying above the pitch. Rather than allowing the set-piece to proceed under the uninvited aircraft, the official immediately paused play to address the issue.
With action suspended, Salisbury stepped across to the touchline to consult with the management and backroom staff members situated on both benches. As players and coaches waited to learn when the match would be safe to resume, police officers launched an investigation into the drone's presence above the Highbury Stadium pitch during the prolonged disruption.
Following a stoppage lasting over eight minutes, the cup tie was finally restarted with 10 minutes on the match clock. A Sky commentator confirmed during the broadcast that police had successfully located the drone operator, allowing the last-16 clash between Fleetwood Town and Arsenal to get back underway.