Arsenal continued their fine recent form and booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Brighton.
Flying high at the top of the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side were perhaps not at their best after rotating heavily but came through thanks to second-half goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka, plus yet another clean sheet. Nwaneri was part of a youthful home selection that also included Max Dowman, the club’s youngest ever starter, and converted a lovely move just before the hour-mark before substitute Saka made certain of Arsenal’s place in the last-eight draw.
Brighton, meanwhile, were left to rue their missed chances, particularly in a first half that they had the better of. A fourth-round exit will disappoint Fabian Hurzeler, who had hoped his side could mount a cup run, and continues a mixed period of inconsistent performances.
Re-live all of the action in our live blog below:
Carabao Cup: Arsenal v Brighton
- Arsenal beat Brighton to reach quarter-finals of Carabao Cup
- HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Brighton
- GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 Brighton (Ethan Nwaneri, 58 minutes)
- GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 Brighton (Bukayo Saka, 76 minutes)
- FULL TIME: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Arsenal FC 2 - 0 Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Follow the latest from the draw
21:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnd you can follow all of the latest as the quarter-final draw is made here:
Carabao Cup draw live: Last eight learn quarter-final opponents
Elsewhere...
21:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleRight then - deeper into the mire slip Liverpool with a 3-0 defeat at Anfield to Crystal Palace continuing a developing sense of crisis for Arne Slot. Chelsea, meanwhile, edged a seven-goal thriller against Wolves despite a late sending off for Liam Delap, and Manchester City came from behind to beat Swansea.
Newcastle look good to join the Premier League contingent in the last eight - they lead Tottenham 2-0 in that slightly later kick off.
Carabao Cup draw: Start time, ball numbers and how to watch on TV
FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
21:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleOnwards Arsenal go, then, in pursuit of silverware with another success to nil to book their quarter-final spot. Mikel Arteta’s side didn’t have things all their own way at all, and Brighton will stew over their missed chances on the trip back down to Sussex later, but two neatly created goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka take the hosts into the last eight.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
21:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 90 + 3 minutes
21:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleOff the post! Action, perhaps unexpectedly, at the other end as Leandro Trossard’s shot trims the daisies before clattering against the bottom of Jason Steele’s left-hand post.
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 90 + 2 minutes
21:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleOf all the teams in the country, you’d make Arsenal just about the unlikeliest to let a two-goal lead slip. Mikel Arteta is still just as exercised on the touchline, mind, as his side look to secure another clean sheet.
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 90 minutes
21:33 , Harry Latham-CoyleFive additional minutes to come.
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 89 minutes
21:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleBrighton are throwing bodies forward but it works against them in this offensive, Stefanos Tzimas firing on goal but appearing to strike teammate Yankuba Minteh in the thicket of players between him and Kepa in the Arsenal net.
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 86 minutes
21:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleA petulant foul and kicking of the ball from Olivier Boscagli, first pushing Mikel Merino over before thrashing his right boot through the ill-gotten gains. A caution for the Brighton defender.
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 83 minutes
21:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleDanny Welbeck has been sent on against his former club as Brighton seek a late fightback, that is looking more and more unlikely.
Eberechi Eze is replaced by Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 81 minutes
21:24 , Harry Latham-CoyleTom Watson beats two Arsenal defenders to a forward hoist, but his touch, having arrived at speed, is inevitably heavy and he cannot keep the ball in thereafter.
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 78 minutes
21:21 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat proves to be Andre Harriman-Annous’s last act - off goes the young striker with Declan Rice brought on to see the game out. Mikel Merino will move up front.
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 Brighton (Bukayo Saka, 76 minutes)
21:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnd there it is! Bukayo Saka doubles Arsenal’s advantage!
That might just seal their spot in the last eight. It’s a locomotive run from Jurrien Timber from deep, and the substitute then slows himself impressively to slot Andre Harriman-Annous in. The youngster’s attempted finish is beaten away by Jason Steele but Bukayo Saka is on hand to convert the rebound.
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 74 minutes
21:17 , Harry Latham-CoyleKept out! Somehow! Mikel Merino’s header looks bound for goal but Jason Steele just about gets his thighs together to save a matter of centimetres from the line.
Arsenal really pushing for a second, which might just be enough.
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 73 minutes
21:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleBrighton only half-clear the resulting corner and Ethan Nwaneri’s shot is deflected behind for another.
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 72 minutes
21:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleGabriel immediately causes havoc in the Brighton box as he leaps for a diagonal delivery from a free kick.
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 71 minutes
21:13 , Harry Latham-CoyleArsenal respond with a triple change of their own. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber are brought on as Max Dowman, Piero Hincapie and Ben White take leave.
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 69 minutes
21:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleTop chance! Cristhian Mosquera is caught in possession by the newly-arrived Tom Watson, and Yasin Ayari should probably make more of the opportunity, with his shot swiftly blocked.
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 68 minutes
21:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleThree changes for Brighton. Mats Wieffer, Yankubah Minteh and Tom Watson are thrown on; off go Diego Gomez, Georginio Rutter and Maxim De Cuyper.
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 66 minutes
21:08 , Harry Latham-CoylePiero Hincapie then deflects a cross from Yasin Ayari behind. Brighton pushing as they seek a quick response to Ethan Nwaneri’s opener.
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 64 minutes
21:07 , Harry Latham-CoyleStill, though, Brighton will have confidence they can keep creating opportunities. Carlos Baleba strolls up to a shot 25 yards out and curls perfectly into the breadbasket of Jason Steele.
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 62 minutes
21:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleHow Brighton will rue their failure to make their chances count now. That was just Arsenal’s second shot on target - a sign of how the visitors have controlled the game.
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 60 minutes
21:02 , Harry Latham-CoyleYou did wonder if Mikel Arteta might have been considering turning to a couple of his first-teamers on a strong bench before that goal, but that move just shows the quality of his squad - it really was delicious.
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 Brighton (Ethan Nwaneri, 58 minutes)
21:01 , Harry Latham-CoyleA delightful Arsenal goal to break the deadlock!
That’s gorgeous, that. Eberechi Eze sparks them into life before a superb backheel from Mikel Merino sends Myles Lewis-Skelly onwards. The left-back picks his target in the box, cutting back to Ethan Nwaneri, who finds the far corner.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 54 minutes
20:57 , Harry Latham-CoyleEthan Nwaneri again picks up a good area in the Brighton box, and has enough time to take a touch and thump something goalwards. It’s low and not uncomfortable for Jason Steele.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 53 minutes
20:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleA cute ball from Eberechi Eze just evades Ethan Nwaneri, with slightly too much oomph in the push beyond the Brighton defence.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 50 minutes
20:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleMaxim De Cuyper stings the palm of Kepa Arrizabalaga with a rasping drive from 20 yards. Chances continue to come for Brighton.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 49 minutes
20:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleCristhian Mosquera bails out near-namesake Christian Norgaard, making sure his teammate’s error in possession is not capitalised upon by standing up and then halting Stefanos Tzimas. Arsenal really do have serious depth in the heart of defence now.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 47 minutes
20:51 , Harry Latham-CoylePenalty? Dive? Neither! Sam Barrott waves away both the appeals of Max Dowman and the Brighton players after the youngster hits the deck in the box. It was definitely more of a dive than a foul, with Dowman looking for contact - and you can understand Olivier Boscagli being keen for a card.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 46 minutes
20:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleA vital intervention from Carlos Baleba, stepping in to prevent Ethan Nwaneri from either shooting on goal or slipping a teammate in. A lovely touch from Max Dowman to help spring him, mind.
Second half...
20:48 , Harry Latham-CoyleAn alteration from Fabian Hurzeler, bringing on Yasin Ayari for Charalampos Kostoulas, who didn’t see much of the ball before the break.
Back underway.
Elsewhere...
20:41 , Harry Latham-CoyleCrystal Palace lead Liverpool 2-0 at half time with more trouble brewing at Anfield, while Chelsea are similarly extending Wolves’ misery. Manchester City have equalised against Swansea while Newcastle lead Tottenham 1-0 in a slightly later kick off.
A reminder of all the draw details you need for a little later:
Carabao Cup draw: Start time, ball numbers and how to watch on TV
HT: Arsenal 0-0 Brighton
20:34 , §Goalless, then, at the interval, but a bright and breezy enough half with the changes perhaps contributing to a relatively open game. Arsenal are still yet to register a shot that Jason Steele has been required to save but their youngsters are beginning to show their threat, while Brighton have looked a real danger when moving quickly through midfield, and might have made more of a couple of big early chances.
HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Brighton
20:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 45 + 1 minutes
20:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleA frisson of excitement around the Emirates as Eberechi Eze and Ethan Nwaneri connect inside the Brighton box, but they are just squeeezed out.
That’s good from Max Dowman, too, shimmying past the first defender to the byline and earning a corner.
Nothing comes of it, and that’ll be that.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 45 minutes
20:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleInto one additional minute at the end of the half.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 43 minutes
20:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis is a very youthful Arsenal forward line, three of the four foremost players teenagers - and some of that inexperience is perhaps showing with the hosts not quite able to settle into a consistent attacking rhythm. They are still yet to have a shot on target, despite some bright moments.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 39 minutes
20:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleBrighton are still causing problems of their own. Cristhian Mosquera gets across smartly to prevent much being made of a forward foray down the right, before a corner to the far post hits the head of Jan Paul van Hecke, who will be a touch disappointed not to find the target.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 36 minutes
20:22 , Harry Latham-CoyleEberechi Eze troubles the barbed wire at the top of the Brighton wall with a pretty meek free kick, but Arsenal reload with a couple of neat flicks and tricks. Jason Steele does well to smother at the feet of Andre Harriman-Annous, the experienced goalkeeper in ahead of the teenage striker.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 35 minutes
20:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleA booking for Diego Coppola, done like a kipper by Myles Lewis-Skelly having rushed across to cover. A free kick in a dangerous area for Arsenal, 20 yards out.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 33 minutes
20:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleDowman and his colleagues are growing into the game. The 15-year-old smoothly slides past one would-be tackler and combines with Mikel Merino, but the pair run aground 25 yards from goal.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 31 minutes
20:16 , Harry Latham-CoyleMax Dowman goes down and stays down after taking contact having released a pass. It looked like a knock of knees with Diego Gomez, but there is no real damage done.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 30 minutes
20:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleSmart defending from Myles Lewis-Skelly. Ferdi Kadioglu latches on to Carlos Baleba’s forward pass after a driving run from the midfielder, and looks set to release an effort on goal. A perfectly-timed nudge from Lewis-Skelly, entirely legitimate, knocks him off his stride, though, before he can get it away, and the ball trickles tamely behind.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 28 minutes
20:13 , Harry Latham-CoyleEberechi Eze gets an ironic cheer from the travelling Brighton fans after being flagged for offside, his Crystal Palace connections not forgotten despite that summer switch across London.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 26 minutes
20:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleA poor corner from Eberechi Eze leaves those hoping to contest for Arsenal disappointed. Regular takers Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are both on the bench, of course.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 24 minutes
20:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleKepa Arrizabalaga is pressed into action again, another low skudder from Georginio Rutter sending the goalkeeper away to his left. Welcomed safely into the Basque’s grasp - but Brighton clearly fancy their chances from range.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 22 minutes
20:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleGeorginio Rutter shows his strength, shoving Myles Lewis-Skelly off the ball to win possession beyond the halfway line. Arsenal reset and reshape well, as they had to.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 20 minutes
20:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleBright interplay down the right from Max Dowman, Ben White and Andre Harriman-Annous works the right-back into a crossing position, but he cannot beat Jan Paul van Hecke.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 19 minutes
20:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleArsenal looks rather more open in midfield than usual, Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino bypassed a little too easily so far in these opening stages.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 16 minutes
20:02 , Harry Latham-CoyleDowman does get a first touch in the box but is soon shut down by the imposing Jan Paul van Hecke, stepping in like a doorman to eject the youngster.
A long throw is launched into the box and Piero Hincapie and Mikel Merino are both there to contest it. The ball bounces behind off the latter’s thigh, slightly unfortunately for the hosts.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 14 minutes
19:59 , Harry Latham-CoyleWe haven’t seen too much of Max Dowman so far, with the 15-year-old working his way into the game.
Elsewhere, meanwhile, Swansea have made an excellent start - they lead Manchester City 1-0.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 12 minutes
19:58 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother decent drive from a Brighton midfielder, Diego Gomez this time clearing it out of his feet and letting fly. Kepa Arrizabalaga watches it by as he sprawls to his right in a relatively leisurely manner.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 11 minutes
19:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleBetter from the home side. Eberechi Eze and Andre Harriman-Annous combine to provide a threat down the inside left channel, forcing Olivier Boscagli into a hurried clearance.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 9 minutes
19:54 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother superb chance for Brighton but Stefanos Tzimas can’t find the target! The visitors break at speed after dealing with an Arsenal corner and Georginio Rutter returns the favour to the forward who set him up moments ago. Tzimas is through one-on-one but skews his effort wide of the goal.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 8 minutes
19:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleGood chance! Tzimas picks up possession slightly deeper this time and connects with an overlapping Georginio Rutter. The Dutchman drives into the box and then against the body of Kepa, making himself big to keep it out. Rutter should really have scored.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 7 minutes
19:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleStefanos Tzimas is leading the line for Brighton tonight but strays too far too soon, and is flagged for offside after latching on to a forward header.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 6 minutes
19:51 , Harry Latham-CoyleA foul on Carols Baleba affords Brighton a chance to settle the pace down after Arsenal had put a little bit of heat on with their press.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 3 minutes
19:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleMikel Merino is the latest midfielder to have a sighter, slicing a shot wide off his left boot. Merino is wearing the captain’s armband for Arsenal tonight, anchoring alongside Christian Norgaard with a dynamic trio of Eberechi Eze, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman ahead.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 2 minutes
19:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleCarlos Baleba has an early go at goal, striking it low from distance. Kepa is down comfortably to claim, diving to his right.
Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 1 minute
19:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleThese are two rotated sides, so we might see a few more clunks in possession than usual. Brighton give the ball away to Eberechi Eze early on.
KICK OFF!
19:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleSam Barrott peeps his whistle and we are up and running at the Emirates.
Arsenal vs Brighton
19:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleNot far away from kick off now. There has been a bit of rain about this evening but it’s not too chilly.
Arsenal vs Brighton
19:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere has been plenty of attention on Max Dowman in the opening months of this season given how the 15-year-old has been earmarked for great things, but it’ll be intriguing to see how Andre Harriman-Annous fares in his first big opportunity in the Arsenal first team. The striker scored 18 times in 37 games for their academy last year.
From Hale End to the first team.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 29, 2025
Our strong young Gunners ❤️ pic.twitter.com/yuHh80M2Y8
Mikel Arteta embracing extra Arsenal noise
19:27 , Harry Latham-CoyleMikel Arteta believes a little extra noise around Arsenal is to be expected given the size of the club, particularly with the Londoners topping the Premier League table.
“Well, probably it is true because it's such a big club that obviously we make a lot of noise, whether it's good or bad,” Arteta said. “But that means that people are paying attention to that. We know our history and that's very normal. Hopefully, we make noise for the good things.
“I think when our people are excited and when we see that the team is competing at the level, consistently, they are the right reasons to believe and that's the main thing. You want to win big trophies, you certainly have to install that feeling amongst the team, the club and around it, and we're in a really good position at the moment, but we know how early it is and how difficult every game is.”
Fabian Hurzeler expecting tight contest
19:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleFabian Hurzeler believes that the nature of a cup competition could play in Brighton’s favour this evening.
“Cup competitions are always a big motivation because it gives you a chance to win a title,” Hurzeler explained ahead of the fourth-round clash. “Arsenal is the favourite, but the cup games are always 50-50. You always have a chance.
“We had two draws against them last season so of course that gives you confidence, but it doesn't mean you get to the next round. They are the best team in the league, but we have to believe that we are capable of beating them. If it goes to a penalty shoot-out we are ready. We practice penalties every day.”
Pep Guardiola’s ideology is dead. So where does football go next?
19:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleEarlier in October, Miguel Delaney, our Chief Football Writer, tried his best to parse the new tactical phase of football and the trends that could come to define the next few years.
Pep Guardiola’s ideology is dead. So where does football go next?
Tony Pulis claims he applied ‘same principles’ as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal
18:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere’s been a slightly old-school feel to English football this season, a few tactics of yesteryear back en vogue - Tony Pulis feels vindicated at the vanguard:
Tony Pulis claims he applied ‘same principles’ as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal
Mikel Arteta details plan for Arsenal starlet Max Dowman
18:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleTeenager Max Dowman becomes Arsenal’s youngest ever starter tonight. The midfielder is a player who appears to have a very bright future - as Mikel Arteta outlined yesterday:
Team news - Brighton
18:43 , Harry Latham-CoyleBrighton XI: Steele; Boscagli, Coppola, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; Baleba, Gomez; Rutter, De Cuyper; Tzimas, Kostoulas.
Team news - Arsenal
18:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleYoung Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous are given starts in a heavily-changed Arsenal side.
Arsenal XI: Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino; Nwaneri, Dowman, Eze; Harriman-Annous.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 29, 2025
🧱 Mosquera and Hincapie at the back
©️ Merino skippers the side
🆕 Dowman and Harriman-Annous start for the first time
Let's book our spot in the next round, Gunners 👊
Team news on the way...
18:27 , Harry Latham-CoyleRighty ho - we should have team news sharpish from the Emirates, with Arsenal confirmed to be without a couple of key figures and perhaps rotating out a few more...
Mikel Arteta confirms two key Arsenal injuries ahead of Carabao Cup tie
Who is in the hat?
18:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleLeague One Cardiff are the eye-catching side already in the hat for tonight’s draw after beating Wrexham in an all-Welsh tie last night - can Swansea join their rivals in the last eight? It’s a tall task against Manchester City for the Swans this evening.
1. Brentford
2. Cardiff City
3. Fulham
4. Arsenal or Brighton & Hove Albion
5. Liverpool or Crystal Palace
6. Newcastle United or Tottenham Hotspur
7. Swansea City or Manchester City
8. Wolverhampton Wanderers or Chelsea
Carabao Cup draw: Start time, ball numbers and how to watch on TV
Quarter-final place on the line
18:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will follow tonight’s proceedings. Here’s everything you need to know:
Carabao Cup draw: Start time, ball numbers and how to watch on TV
Brighton bid to bounce back
18:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleTo the visitors, then, and Brighton’s very aesthetically pleasing record of three wins, three draws, and three defeats from nine Premier League games so far - although Fabian Hurzeler’s side were the latest to feel the force of a revived Manchester United at the weekend.
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha help Man Utd beat Brighton for third win in a row
Bukayo Saka believes England and Arsenal double is possible in 2026
17:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere will be no dangers of anyone getting too far ahead of themselves, but Bukayo Saka is optimistic than 2026 can bring honours for club and country.
Bukayo Saka believes England and Arsenal double is possible in 2026
Mikel Arteta hails Eberechi Eze as star haunts former club Crystal Palace
17:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleTo the fore, as he felt likely to be, against Crystal Palace was Eberechi Eze, starting to find his feet for Arsenal after scoring against his former club.
Mikel Arteta hails Eberechi Eze as star haunts former club Crystal Palace
Arsenal looking to continue good recent run
17:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleYes, things are looking pretty, pretty good for Arsenal at the moment, top of the Premier League table and surviving a potentially tricky test against Crystal Palace at the weekend.
Eberechi Eze scores winner against former club Palace to boost Arsenal lead
Arsenal vs Brighton live
16:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleA place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup is up for grabs as Arsenal and Brighton collide in an all-Premier League tie. Can Mikel Arteta’s side, flying high at the top of the Premier League, continue their good form, or will the visitors book a spot in the last eight?
Kick off is at 7.45pm GMT.
