Arsenal’s Youngsters Shine as Nwaneri and Saka Seal Carabao Cup Quarter-Final Spot | OneFootball

Arsenal’s Young Guns Fire Gunners into Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals

Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka struck in the second half as a youthful Arsenal side defeated Brighton 2-0 at the Emirates to seal their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Mikel Arteta made 10 changes from the team that beat Crystal Palace at the weekend, handing starts to 15-year-old Max Dowman and 17-year-old Andre Harriman-Annous in a bold display of faith in the club’s academy. Dowman, who became the youngest player ever to start for Arsenal, was joined by fellow teenagers Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arteta again underlined his long-term vision for the club’s future.

Despite Brighton creating the better chances early on, Georginio Rutter saw a shot saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga and Stefanos Tzimas fired wide when through on goal, it was Arsenal’s youngsters who took control after the break.

Mikel Merino’s clever backheel released Lewis-Skelly into the area on 57 minutes, and the young defender showed great composure to pick out Nwaneri, who swept home a crisp finish into the far corner. The Emirates erupted as one academy graduate set up another.

The win was secured when substitute Bukayo Saka, on for the final 20 minutes, reacted quickest after Harriman-Annous’ shot was parried, rifling the rebound into an empty net. It was a professional finish to a mature performance from a side brimming with youthful energy.

The victory extends Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 11 matches in all competitions and marks a sixth consecutive clean sheet, a record that will please Arteta as much as the manner of this win.

Dowman the Star on a Night for the Future

Max Dowman’s inclusion was not just a record-breaking moment but a statement of faith. The 15-year-old winger, who impressed in pre-season with his fearless dribbling and pace, showed once again why Mikel Arteta has been so vocal about his potential.

He drew applause from the home crowd with his direct runs and quick feet, shrugging off some rough treatment from Brighton’s defenders. For a player still too young to sign a professional contract, his temperament stood out as much as his talent.

Dowman’s impact follows a pattern seen under Arteta, where youth is given not only opportunity but responsibility. Alongside Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, and Harriman-Annous, he forms part of a generation that is already knocking loudly on the first-team door.

As Arsenal look ahead to the next round of the Carabao Cup, the night will be remembered less for the result and more for the glimpse it offered into the future. The Gunners’ next great era may already be taking shape and it looks fearless, fast, and homegrown.