Arsenal advanced to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a composed 2–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday night, in a match that celebrated both victory and history. Manager Mikel Arteta’s bold trust in his youth academy paid off handsomely as two Hale End graduates fired the Gunners to a sixth consecutive win across all competitions — all without conceding a single goal, a new milestone in English top-flight history.
The Emirates Stadium crowd witnessed a memorable evening brimming with youthful promise.
The History Maker: Fifteen-year-old winger Max Dowman became Arsenal’s youngest-ever competitive starter at 15 years and 302 days, earning a standing ovation after an impressive performance on the right flank.
The Debutant: Seventeen-year-old striker Andre Harriman-Annous made his senior debut, further underlining the depth of emerging talent from Arsenal’s academy.
After a slow first half in which the heavily rotated side struggled for rhythm and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga produced key saves, the Gunners found their flow after the break.
57th minute: Ethan Nwaneri — already the Premier League’s youngest-ever player — opened the scoring with a calm finish following a brilliant team move involving Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
76th minute: Substitute Bukayo Saka sealed the win, converting a rebound after Harriman-Annous’s shot was saved by Brighton keeper Jason Steele.
Arteta, who made ten changes to his starting lineup, praised his young side for rising to the occasion.
“A very special evening, to be fair,” Arteta said. “That feeling of giving someone the opportunity to fulfill a dream is unique. We’re going to need them, and tonight showed they’re ready.”
The result not only extends Arsenal’s remarkable run of clean sheets but also underscores the club’s bright future, powered by an academy pipeline producing talent ready for top-level football.
The Gunners will now face Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium in the quarter-finals as they continue their quest to end their long wait for League Cup glory.
