Arsenal’s Winning Run Goes On As Nwaneri And Saka Boot Brighton From Carabao Cup

The contiguous early looks very agleam for Arsenal and truthful does nan much distant. On nan nighttime erstwhile Max Dowman became nan club’s youngest subordinate to commencement a lucifer astatine nan property of conscionable 15 years and 302 days, it was 2 different graduates of nan Hale End academy who scored nan goals to nonstop Mikel Arteta’s broadside into nan past eight.

Ethan Nwaneri, who has 1 grounds that Arsenal’s latest protege tin ne'er hit arsenic nan youngest subordinate successful Premier League history, recovered nan nett again connected a uncommon commencement to settee an inexperienced Arsenal side’s nerves earlier Bukayo Saka rounded disconnected nan triumph against Brighton aft coming connected to switch Dowman.

On nan awesome grounds of nan 70 minutes he was granted present by Arteta, nan forward, who will move 16 connected New Year’s Eve, will person plentifulness much opportunities to impressment connected nan correct flank complete nan years to come.

This was an eighth triumph successful succession for Arsenal successful each competitions and yet different cleanable expanse contempt making 10 changes. Having already established a four-point lead astatine nan apical of nan Premier League, Arteta will dream that nan timely injection of younker tin supply much impetus successful a play erstwhile they look destined to yet extremity their agelong hunt for silverware.

For immoderate clip it has been a matter of erstwhile and not if Dowman would beryllium handed his first start, having first trained pinch Arsenal’s elder squad erstwhile he turned 14, pinch nan anticipation that he could still go nan youngest subordinate successful Champions League history should he make an quality earlier nan extremity of January. But nan absence of Gabriel Martinelli meant Arteta was short of attacking options and keen to rotate his squad earlier 3 testing distant trips adjacent week arsenic only Eberechi Eze retained his spot from nan triumph against Crystal Palace connected Sunday.

Max Dowman (left) impressed connected his afloat debut and was taken disconnected to a opinionated ovation. Photograph: David Price/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

The Brighton supporters’ travel from nan southbound seashore had been disrupted by train issues but those who made it to northbound London haven’t forgotten his aged allegiances to their rivals Crystal Palace and booed each clip he touched nan ball.

Arteta’s action included handing a elder debut for nan 17‑year‑old striker Andre Harriman‑Annous successful spot of Viktor Gyökeres, while Brighton besides boasted a talented teenage striker successful their starting lineup successful nan shape of Charalampos Kostoulas arsenic Fabian Hürzeler made six changes from their conclusion against Manchester United astatine nan weekend.

If location were immoderate doubts astir whether Dowman was fresh for this shape past they were dispelled successful nan 10th infinitesimal erstwhile a superb portion of power sewage nan location fans retired of their seats.

Having scored his first extremity against United aft signing from Olympiakos for £30m successful nan summer, Kostoulas should person made Arsenal salary from nan resulting area erstwhile Brighton raced downfield but he could only sprout wide. Georginio Rutter had besides forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into an early prevention by past arsenic nan visitors started confidently.

It was understandable pinch truthful galore changes that Arsenal lacked hit successful attack, though their biggest threat came whenever Dowman sewage nan shot connected nan correct flank. With a mop of hairsbreadth that he is perpetually brushing distant from his eyes, he is deceptively speedy disconnected nan people and near nan Belgium world Maxim De Cuyper for dormant connected much than 1 occasion. Hürzeler was near cursing his luck erstwhile someway Jan Paul van Hecke headed wide from a area 5 minutes earlier half-time.

Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, left, celebrates aft scoring his side's opening goal. Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP

Dowman thought he should person had a punishment astatine nan commencement of nan 2nd half erstwhile a mesmerising tally was ended by Oliver Boscagli. The referee Sam Barrott waved distant nan appeals from nan location crowd. De Cuyper past forced Arrizabalaga into a flying prevention astatine nan different extremity aft Christian Nørgaard mislaid nan shot cheaply. A awesome move that was triggered by Mikel Merino’s clever backheel yet created nan breakthrough, pinch Nwaneri uncovering nan area brilliantly aft being group up by yet different academy graduate, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

A infinitesimal later Eze saw different effort deflect conscionable complete arsenic Arsenal started to find spaces successful Brighton’s defence, pinch Hürzeler responding by introducing 3 attacking substitutes. Their apical scorer – and erstwhile Gunner – Danny Welbeck did yet make an appearance.

Merino saw his effort from a area cleared disconnected nan statement earlier Dowman was fixed a opinionated ovation erstwhile he made measurement for Saka. The England guardant did not discarded immoderate clip making his people erstwhile he fired successful nan rebound aft Harriman-Anous’s changeable was saved to support Arsenal’s winning tally and nonstop an ominous informing to their rivals.