Brilliant Arsenal blaze past Brighton to storm into Carabao Cup Quarter-finals

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Arsenal advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a composed 2-0 victory over Brighton at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, thanks to goals from teenage midfielder Ethan Nwaneri and winger Bukayo Saka.

The Gunners, fielding a mix of youth and experience under Mikel Arteta, showed tactical discipline and attacking purpose against a Brighton side that struggled to convert their early chances.

Brighton began the match with intent, pressing high and testing Arsenal’s goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on several occasions.

The Spanish shot-stopper produced a fine save in the eighth minute to deny Georginio Rutter from close range, before Maxim De Cuyper forced another top stop shortly after the break.

Arsenal, however, weathered the early storm and gradually gained control. Their breakthrough came in the 57th minute when 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri finished off a flowing move, guiding a precise pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly into the bottom right corner to make it 1–0.

The goal galvanised the hosts, who began to dominate possession and push Brighton deeper into their half. Substitute Bukayo Saka sealed the win in the 76th minute, reacting quickest to a rebound inside the box to fire home Arsenal’s second and send the home crowd into celebration.

Arteta made several tactical substitutions, bringing on Declan Rice, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber, and Saka to consolidate Arsenal’s control in the second half.

Despite Brighton’s efforts to find a late response, including chances for Stefanos Tzimas and Yankuba Minteh, Kepa remained solid in goal to preserve the clean sheet.

Brighton’s frustrations boiled over late on, with Olivier Boscagli shown a yellow card for dissent, as Arsenal calmly saw out six minutes of added time to secure their place in the last eight.