A mammoth 84 places in England's football rankings separated the Premier League champions from their hosts, who are languishing in the bottom half of League Two with just three wins from 13 games, and the class difference was on display everywhere except the final score.
Arsenal held almost four-fifths of uncontested possession throughout the match but could create only 2.21 expected goals from their 26 total shot attempts, 10 of which were blocked by a defiant Fleetwood back five - including three blocks each from centre backs Finley Potter and Conor Haughey.
Arteta demonstrated a sympathetic attitude towards his players after the game, praising their effort and application in spite of the final result.
"It really is a sad day for us. I cannot fault at all the attitude of the players," he told Sky Sports after the game.
"I haven't seen anybody not doing what is required at this level. We had so much of the ball, so many chances, so many shots.
"You obviously want the margins to be bigger than going to penalties. You need to capitalise on that and we didn't. That's football."
Arteta agreed that cup ties were often a great "leveller" in English football, particularly when top-flight clubs send experimental and youthful sides to hostile opposition venues.
Sixteen-year-old winger Max Dowman was in the spotlight, having been sent off for kicking out at Fleetwood's Harrison Neal following a difficult challenge.
The manager was seen offering some stern words to Dowman on his way off the pitch, telling media it was "something we talked about before the match" without clarifying what he was addressing.
"We all learn from our mistakes," Arteta said of the red card, without being drawn into offering comment on a dismissal which was seen by some as harsh.
Arteta remained calm and composed in his post-match address, reaffirming his overall contentment with the Gunners' performance.
"The attitude I have zero complaints about, otherwise I would be here absolutely fuming," he explained.
"I'm just sad. I think we are all sad. We have a massive responsibility to carry this club. It was nothing to do with effort, application or determination to win, but we lacked other things to create much bigger margins.
"What we produced today should have been shown in the scoreline."