Arsenal 2-0 Brighton: The Gunners booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with both goals from Ethan Nwaneri against Brighton on Wednesday night.
Arsenal’s academy was in the spotlight as the Gunners secured a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brighton. The North London side were on the back foot for much of the first half, but goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga helped them level the score.
However, Mikel Arteta’s team will have academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri up front. England star Bukayo Saka, also from Hale End, then doubled the Gunners’ lead with a ricocheted shot.
Here’s everything that was talked about at the Emirates as Arsenal successfully advanced to the last eight.
read more: Who is Andre Harriman-Anous?Arsenal wonder player made first-team debut against Brightonread more: Bukayo Saka shares exciting predictions for Arsenal and England – ‘It’s possible’
Dauman makes history
Max Dauman has been in the spotlight at the Emirates Stadium for some time. After making his first-team debut against Leeds United earlier this season, the youngster achieved another memorable feat by becoming the Gunners’ youngest ever starter against Brighton.
At just 15 years and 302 days old, he won the crown from fellow Academy graduate Jack Porter. Jack Porter was 16 years old when he was selected from the start of last season.
Doman has certainly made an impression, which Arteta will be pleased with, and the fact that he has left his mark on Arsenal’s history will be an unforgettable achievement for him.
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Early chance for Brighton
A slightly slower start might have been expected given all the changes on Arsenal’s side. However, Arteta’s men may have felt a little lucky not to have fallen behind at the break.
The Seagulls dominated the opening stages and carved out a number of golden chances through Carlos Baleva, Diego Gomez and Sharalampos Kostouras, but it took the introduction of substitute goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to keep Arsenal level.
Nwaneri scores first goal
Given that the team had some of the most promising young players from Hale End, it was no surprise that perhaps the best player in recent years scored Arsenal’s opening goal. The Gunners put together a stunning move with Merino backheeling into the path of Myles Lewis-Skelly.
He sent a centering ball to Nwaneri, who guided the ball into the far corner with a cultured finish. After scoring nine goals for the team last season, the 18-year-old has opened his account for this season and will be hoping to increase his tally as the season progresses, especially considering the Gunners have progressed to the next round of the Carabao Cup.
Kepa leaves an impression
Kepa may have been a little rusty in this game, having only made one appearance for Arsenal since joining from Chelsea in the summer. But in reality there was no sign of that.
The Spaniard produced a number of excellent stops and his insistence from high balls also relieved a lot of pressure on the Arsenal goal.
Kepa’s arrival in north London was not universally praised, but his performances as a substitute for David Raya were fruitful and exactly what Arsenal were looking for when they made their move to sign him.
Saka goes home
With 15 minutes remaining, another academy graduate got on the scoresheet, but this time it was one of the more experienced members of the team, Bukayo Saka. Andre Harriman-Annas made a great pass to get in behind but couldn’t find a way past Jason Steele.
The ball fell into the hands of Saka, who calmly created space and fired a shot into an unguarded net. This became his fourth goal in what is turning into an even more fruitful campaign.
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