Meet Fleetwood's giant-killers: Victory over Arsenal inspired by an ex-warehouse worker, 'the next Wayne Rooney' and the star romantically linked with tennis ace Heather Watson

Fleetwood Town pulled off one of the biggest giant-killings in Carabao Cup history on Tuesday night as they knocked out Premier League champions Arsenal on penalties.

A team composed of a former warehouse worker and a player once dubbed 'the next Wayne Rooney' beat a side 83 places above them in the English football pecking order.

Among them are pizza lovers, padel players, and multiple former stars from Manchester United and Man City.

Without further ado, here are Fleetwood's heroes.

Fleetwood stunned Arsenal as they knocked them out of the Carabao Cup on penalties

A former warehouse worker who was once let go by Accrington Stanley for complaining about his lack of game time on Twitter.

His only complaint on Tuesday night was that he lost his voice organising Fleetwood's defence – before saving Bruno Guimaraes' penalty to set them on course for victory.

The father of two is friends with Jesse Lingard and Tommy Fury – they attended his wedding – and a big fan of Craig David.

Potter played with a bandage above his eye after sustaining a cut in a 2-1 defeat by Exeter on Saturday.

Soldiering through injury is part of his story. The former England and Sheffield United youngster overcame an 18-month knee injury in his late teens before winning a contract with Barnet.

Has history of cup glory after winning two domestic trophies with St Johnstone in Scotland. He scored the winning goal in the club's Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup triumphs in 2021 – playing for 80 minutes in the latter with an injured ankle and painkillers.

The Scot comes from a footballing family – his great-uncle Benny and great-grandfather Bob also played. It is unclear whether he is still dating tennis star Heather Watson, but she went to watch him play in the Europa Conference League with St Mirren in 2024.

Goalkeeper Jay Lynch, who used to work in a warehouse, saved Bruno Guimaraes' penalty

Defender Shaun Rooney has history with cup heroics and has been romantically linked to tennis star Heather Watson

Academy graduate Haughey admitted he had not even practised penalties after scoring the winner against Arsenal.

The teenager got so carried away that he swore in his post-match interview, forcing Sky Sports to apologise. The Belfast-born defender is a Northern Ireland youth international and was the youngest-ever player to appear for Glentoran at 15 years, three months, and eight days old.

A Manchester United youth academy graduate who received encouragement from Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay after leaving the club in January.

Played the full 90 minutes against Arsenal a year after revealing that his father, David, had died by suicide. He has done his dad proud.

Neal's main contribution was putting in the agricultural challenge which sparked Max Dowman's reaction and got the Arsenal prodigy sent off.

The Barnsley-born lad keeps a low profile. At Barrow he was nicknamed Casper after the teenage lead character in the film Kes.

The Scottish youngster, formerly of Celtic and Rangers, signed his first professional deal with Fleetwood in 2024.

A fashionable chap who also enjoys playing padel.

Rhys Bennett played in the clash a year after revealing that his dad had died by suicide

Another former Manchester United kid who joined the giants aged seven and was once apparently dubbed 'the next Wayne Rooney'.

The midfielder recently told Fleetwood's media channel that he has a fear of snakes and would be an electrician if he wasn't playing football. His favourite food is pizza.

Four years ago, Batty was playing Sunday league football in Liverpool.

Blackburn gave him his break in the game and he joined Fleetwood in the summer after spells with Accrington and Swindon. A travel nut who has previously been quad biking in the desert in Egypt.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi scored the biggest goal of his career when he put Fleetwood ahead

A veteran EFL striker who played in the Premier League for Manchester City in their first year of Abu Dhabi ownership.

Spent four years out of football between 2012 and 2016 after being convicted and imprisoned for rape, but was released in 2014 and found not guilty via a retrial in 2016.

Scored the biggest goal of his career when he nutmegged Arsenal goalkeeper Illan Meslier 21 minutes into this clash at Highbury.

The London-born forward, who is on loan from Fulham, has featured for England's Under 18s.

Lawlor admitted he forgot the match was going to penalties and was preparing for extra-time with just minutes to go in his side's heroic triumph.

Only played as high as non-League and entered the Fleetwood dugout in January after two previous caretaker spells with the League Two outfit.