Arsenal’s impressive form continued with an eighth consecutive win in all competitions after a composed 2–0 victory over Brighton in the Carabao Cup. The night belonged to the club’s Hale End graduates, with Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka scoring the goals that booked a place in the quarter-finals and underlined the Gunners’ growing strength in depth.
Fifteen-year-old Max Dowman made history as the youngest player ever to start a competitive match for Arsenal, aged just 15 years and 302 days. Despite his age, the teenage forward showed maturity beyond his years, dazzling the Emirates crowd with his control, pace, and confidence on the ball. Dowman was eventually substituted to a standing ovation after 70 minutes, replaced by Saka, who later sealed the victory.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made ten changes from the side that defeated Crystal Palace at the weekend, also handing a senior debut to 17-year-old striker Andre Harriman-Annous. Even with such rotation, the hosts maintained their defensive solidity and control, collecting yet another clean sheet.
After a lively first half in which Brighton created a few openings through Georginio Rutter and Charalampos Kostoulas, Arsenal settled into their rhythm after the break. The breakthrough came when Myles Lewis-Skelly linked beautifully with Mikel Merino before feeding Nwaneri, who curled a precise finish into the corner to calm any nerves.
Moments later, Merino’s corner was cleared off the line, and Arsenal’s dominance continued. Dowman’s exit brought on Saka, whose impact was immediate. When Harriman-Annous’s shot was parried by the Brighton goalkeeper, Saka reacted quickest to fire home the rebound, doubling Arsenal’s lead and securing their passage to the last eight.
Arteta praised the club’s young talents for their maturity and confidence, hinting they will play key roles as the season progresses. With a four-point lead in the Premier League and growing belief in all competitions, Arsenal look determined to end their long wait for silverware this season.
