Arsenal secured their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, in a match that saw both youthful exuberance and established talent shine. Goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka sealed the win, while young Max Dowman broke a club record by becoming Arsenal's youngest-ever starter.
The match was also notable for manager Mikel Arteta making ten changes to the starting lineup from the weekend's Premier League victory over Crystal Palace. This included full debuts for Dowman, Piero Hincapie, and Andre Harriman-Anous. Despite the changes, Arsenal maintained control for much of the game, showcasing the squad's growing depth and maturity.
Max Dowman, aged just 15 years and 302 days, broke the record previously held by Jack Porter, who was 16 years and 72 days old when he started against Bolton Wanderers in the same competition last season. Dowman already made three senior appearances this term. Dowman's record is a testament to Arsenal's commitment to developing young talent from their Hale End academy.
Brighton had opportunities to score in the first half, with Georginio Rutter and Stefanos Tzimas both firing wide under pressure from Arsenal's stand-in goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. However, Arsenal's defense held firm, securing their tenth clean sheet of the season.
Arsenal broke the deadlock in the 56th minute through a well-worked goal. A clever backheel from Mikel Merino initiated the attack, finding Myles Lewis-Skelly on the wing, who then slipped a pass to Ethan Nwaneri. Nwaneri, attacking the half-space, unleashed a powerful shot past Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele, marking his first senior goal for the club. The goal highlighted the successful integration of academy players into the first team.
Arteta introduced Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber in a triple substitution, and the move paid off almost immediately. Timber's driving run disrupted the Brighton defense, and after Harriman-Anous's shot was saved, Saka was on hand to convert the rebound, sealing Arsenal's place in the quarter-finals.
Saka's goal underscored his importance to the team, even after returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out for sometime. His ability to make an impact after coming off the bench demonstrates his quality and the strength in depth Arsenal now possess.
Arsenal have been on an impressive run, securing their eighth consecutive win in all competitions. This victory further solidifies their status as serious contenders for silverware this season. Other teams that have qualified for the Carabao Cup quarter-finals are Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United.
