Arsenal had a night to forget during their Carabao Cup 2026-27 fourth-round clash against Fleetwood Town on Tuesday, October 27. Despite the Gunners losing 5-3 on penalties to their League Two opponents, Ceadach O’Neill had a debut to remember.

The 18-year-old Northern Ireland international made his senior debut for the reigning Premier League champions at the Highbury Stadium. The youngster put in an impressive shift during what was a shock result for Mikel Arteta’s men, who were humbled by fourth-division Fleetwood.

Deployed on the left wing, O’Neill had an immediate impact against the Cods, setting up Viktor Gyokeres’ equaliser in the 50th minute. That goal cancelled Aaron Loupalo’s opener, sending the match to penalties. The youngster was on the field for 66 minutes.

Ceadach O’Neill’s profile

Born in Kilrea, Northern Ireland, on April 10, 2008, Ceadach O’Neill began his senior career with Linfield FC. He can play across the forward line and is adept at playing as a striker, winger or attacking midfielder.

He made his debut in the Northern Ireland Football League Cup against Queen’s University Belfast in October 2023. He then made his NIFL Premiership debut against Ballymena United the following month at just 15 years old.

Arsenal invited O’Neill to attend a trial in November 2023 and secured a permanent move in 2024. He impressed for the Gunners at the youth level, scoring twice on his Arsenal Under-18 debut in a 3-2 victory over West Ham in August 2024.

The youngster signed his first professional contract with the North London club in April 2025. In the 2025-26 season, he finished as the Gunners’ leading academy goalscorer, netting 18 goals in 30 appearances across three age groups.

As a result, he was invited to train with the first team during pre-season. He was also named on the bench for Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League match against Lille in October 2026.

Also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland, O’Neill was included in Northern Ireland’s senior squad for the June 2026 friendlies against Guinea and France. He made his senior debut against the former, coming on as a substitute.

The youngster earned two more senior caps in UEFA Nations League matches against Georgia and Ukraine.

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