Arsenal booked their spot in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after a convincing 2-0 win against fellow Premier League side Brighton.
Arsenal secured passage to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a win over Brighton & Hove Albion, marking a memorable night for the club’s academy graduates.
A goal from Ethan Nwaneri and a late strike from substitute Bukayo Saka sealed the result, but it was 15-year-old Max Dowman who impressed most in a historic first senior start.
Arsenal Player Ratings
The following is a breakdown of the Arsenal player performances and ratings, as judged by Standard Sport’s Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium:
Kepa Arrizabalaga – Rating: 8
The goalkeeper delivered an impressive performance, beginning with a crucial early save against Georginio Rutter that established the tone for his evening. While his distribution sometimes lacked precision, his work between the posts was solid and reassuring throughout the contest.
Ben White – Rating: 7
White appeared sharp and energetic, which is a major positive for the Gunners. He consistently ventured forward down the flank, executing overlapping runs effectively and combining well with the young Max Dowman ahead of him. His fitness and willingness to cover ground were clearly evident.
Cristhian Mosquera – Rating: 7
Mosquera continued to demonstrate excellent value, showing composure under pressure for much of the game. He executed several critical last-ditch tackles and played with cool assurance, marred only by one slightly careless error during the second half.
Piero Hincapie – Rating: 7
Making his full debut, Hincapie put in a promising and reliable shift. He was confident when possessing the ball and assertive in his challenges, delivering a solid foundation on which to build his Arsenal career.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – Rating: 7
The midfielder started with some imprecise passing but steadily grew into the match. He improved significantly as the game progressed, eventually earning an assist by setting up Ethan Nwaneri for the opening goal.
Ethan Nwaneri – Rating: 8
In only his second senior start of the campaign, Nwaneri seized his opportunity. He provided the vital breakthrough, finishing off a well-constructed team move in the second half to put Arsenal in front.
Christian Norgaard – Rating: 6
Norgaard was given a start with Martin Zubimendi rested. Although he performed his defensive tasks dependably, the midfielder was occasionally prone to sloppy errors when moving the ball forward in possession.
Mikel Merino – Rating: 7
Serving as the team captain for the evening, Merino had a strong performance in the midfield engine room. He played an integral role in creating Nwaneri’s goal with a skillful backheel that opened up the Brighton defence.
Max Dowman – Rating: 8 | Star Player
Dowman earned the Man of the Match accolade for his stellar display. The 15-year-old made history as the youngest player ever to start a senior match for Arsenal. He was electrifying throughout the evening, constantly troubling the Brighton defence and received a deserved standing ovation upon his substitution.
Andre Harriman-Annous – Rating: 7
The young forward made a surprising senior debut, facing the challenge of Brighton’s three-man defence. He showed admirable work rate, operating tirelessly and contributing bright moments, including the initial saved shot that led to Saka’s match-sealing goal.
Eberechi Eze – Rating: 7
After a quiet first half, Eze became much more lively following the interval. He looked comfortable on the left flank, combining effectively with Nwaneri to increase Arsenal’s attacking threat.
Substitutes
Gabriel (for Hincapie 70′) – Rating: 6
The central defender immediately posed a significant threat from attacking set-pieces, causing disarray within the opposition box moments after his introduction.
Jurrien Timber (for White 70′) – Rating: 7
Timber made an instant and positive impact, with his powerful, charging run forward being key to the build-up play that resulted in Saka’s goal.
Bukayo Saka (for Dowman 71′) – Rating: 7
Saka made a swift contribution, coming off the bench to score within minutes of his arrival, effectively killing the game off and securing the victory for Arsenal.
Declan Rice (for Harriman-Annous 77′) – Rating: N/A
Leandro Trossard (for Eze 83′) – Rating: N/A