Why Arsenal's Carabao Cup tie vs Fleetwood Town was stopped for EIGHT minutes

Arsenal's Carabao Cup tie with Fleetwood was halted due to a drone above the stadium as the referee called the players off the pitch.

Just a minute of the fourth-round tie had been played when the officials stopped play as a result of the drone appearing over Highbury Stadium.

For five minutes, the players kicked a ball among themselves to stay warm as both teams looked bemused by the situation.

Referee Michael Salisbury walked over to the touchline to speak to both managers and then signalled to the players that they would have to come off.

Boos rang out around the ground, but the players then stayed on the touchline rather than going back to the dressing rooms.

The drone disappeared from view and the officials were told that local authorities had identified who was responsible for flying it.

That ensured the match was able to resume and eventually it got back underway after an eight-minute delay.

Drone in the sky

Getty

The pause continued an eventful 24 hours for Mikel Arteta. He was at the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday night as it was delayed for 45 minutes due to traffic in central London.

Gabriel, Bukayo Saka and David Raya were also present at the London Palladium but they are not in the matchday squad against Fleetwood.

Arteta has taken the opportunity to rest many of his key first-team stars, instead naming a starting lineup consisting of fringe stars and teenager talent.

Max Dowman and Marli Salmon are both in the starting Ceadach O'Neill makes his senior debut on the left wing.