Arsenal's Carabao Cup journey reached a thrilling milestone as they secured a 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, propelling them into the quarter-finals. But here's where it gets even more exciting: this match wasn't just about the win—it was a night of record-breaking moments and youthful brilliance. Goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka sealed the deal, but the real story began long before the first whistle.
History in the Making
The evening kicked off with a historic first: 15-year-old Max Dowman became Arsenal's youngest-ever starter in a competitive match, a staggering achievement at just 15 years and 302 days old. Alongside him, Andre Harriman-Annous made his debut, becoming the 924th player to don the Arsenal shirt. These academy products weren’t just making up the numbers—they were central to a side that saw Mikel Arteta make 10 changes following the win over Crystal Palace.
Early Drama and Resilience
Brighton came out swinging, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga—making his home debut—forced into action twice in the opening 10 minutes. The Spaniard denied both Carlos Baleba and Georginio Rutter, showcasing his composure under pressure. The Seagulls’ Stefanos Tzimas then had a golden opportunity on a counter-attack but fired wide under Kepa’s pressure. Despite these early scares, Arsenal grew into the game, with Dowman’s energy and skill causing problems for Brighton’s defense.
And this is the part most people miss: as the first half drew to a close, Cristhian Mosquera’s alert defending denied Tzimas from close range, and Jan Paul van Hecke’s header from the resulting corner failed to find the target. It was a half of near misses and growing Arsenal dominance.
Ethan’s Breakthrough
The second half saw Dowman continue to shine, darting into the box and appealing for a penalty after contact with Olivier Boscagli—a claim waved away by referee Sam Barrott. Nwaneri then came close, only to be denied by Jason Steele. But the breakthrough came soon after, and it was a moment of pure teamwork. Mikel Merino’s backheel set up Myles Lewis-Skelly, whose cutback found Nwaneri, who fired home with a first-time finish.
Bukayo Doubles the Lead
Arsenal didn’t let up, pushing for a second. Eberechi Eze’s effort was deflected over, and Brighton nearly capitalized when Tom Watson dispossessed Mosquera, but Yasin Ayari’s shot was blocked by Piero Hincapie. The introduction of Bukayo Saka proved decisive. His inswinging corner was headed toward goal by Merino, only for Steele to save on the line. But on 76 minutes, a relentless run from Jurrien Timber set up Harriman-Annous, whose effort was saved, only for Saka to pounce and double Arsenal’s lead.
Controversial Question: Was this Arsenal’s most complete performance of the season? With a clean sheet—their sixth in a row—and a dominant display from their young stars, it’s hard to argue otherwise. But what do you think? Did Brighton miss their chance, or was Arsenal’s victory simply a masterclass in efficiency?
What’s Next?
With the quarter-final clash against Crystal Palace on the horizon, Arsenal’s focus shifts to the Premier League, where they face Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, November 1. Then, it’s off to Slavia Prague for their fourth Champions League group stage match the following Tuesday. As the season heats up, one thing is clear: this Arsenal side is brimming with talent, both young and experienced, and they’re not done making history yet.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments—are Arsenal genuine contenders on all fronts this season? Or is there still work to be done?
