Arsenal vs Brighton: Match Preview, Latest Team News and How to Watch | OneFootball

Arsenal aim to maintain momentum against Brighton in Carabao Cup test

Arsenal’s relentless rhythm faces fresh test

Arsenal’s season has reached a point where every game feels like a statement. On Wednesday night, Mikel Arteta’s side welcome Brighton to the Emirates Stadium for a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie, seeking their eighth straight win in all competitions and a place in the quarter-finals. For a team operating with precision and control, this represents another opportunity to show their growing depth and maturity.

The 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the weekend was far from emphatic but spoke volumes about Arsenal’s current edge. It was their seventh consecutive win and their 11th in 13 matches across all competitions this season. In that time, they have lost only once, sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League and hold a flawless record in the Champions League. This is no longer a side learning how to win but one that has grown accustomed to doing so.

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Rotation and responsibility

With such a congested fixture list, rotation is inevitable. Declan Rice, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori are all being assessed after injuries sustained against Palace, while Gabriel Martinelli’s late limp from the pitch raised fresh concerns. Bukayo Saka, who has been battling illness, is expected to be rested.

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Mikel Arteta’s selection is likely to echo the blend used against Port Vale in the previous round, a match Arsenal won 2-0 thanks to Eberechi Eze’s first goal for the club. That night was notable for its experimental feel and the presence of academy graduates alongside new signings. Deadline Day recruit Piero Hincapie could be handed a full debut, while Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Christian Norgaard and Max Dowman are all in contention for valuable minutes.

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Such depth allows Arteta to preserve his first-choice players while maintaining competitiveness across multiple fronts. “Every player who steps in has to bring the same standards,” the Arsenal boss said recently. “That’s what makes us strong.”

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Brighton’s unpredictable spark

Brighton arrive in North London with their own Carabao Cup pedigree this season, having scored 12 goals in two rounds with successive 6-0 victories over Oxford and Barnsley. Yet, their Premier League form tells a different story. Fabian Hurzeler’s side sit 13th after nine games, suffering a 4-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend that underlined both their attacking potential and defensive volatility.

They remain without key players, including Kaoru Mitoma, Joel Veltman and Brajan Gruda, while James Milner is unavailable due to a knock. Adam Webster, Solly March and Jack Hinshelwood continue their long-term recoveries. Brighton’s youthful core, however, ensures unpredictability. On their day, they can outplay anyone, their fluid pressing and movement capable of unsettling even the most organised teams.

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Yet, away to Arsenal, the challenge is psychological as much as tactical. The Emirates has become a fortress this season, a place where opponents often find themselves suffocated by structure and tempo.

Prediction and perspective

Arsenal’s efficiency under Arteta is becoming their defining trait. They have conceded only three goals all season, and just one from open play. Their mastery of set-pieces, combined with their defensive control, has transformed them from attractive challengers into ruthless contenders. Brighton will test that discipline, but Arsenal’s rhythm and collective assurance should prevail.

Arteta’s side now win games even when the fluidity is missing. That speaks to evolution. The tactical clarity and mental resilience that once seemed fragile now underpin every performance. For Brighton, this is an opportunity to reassert their reputation as Premier League disruptors, but against a side in Arsenal’s current form, even moments of brilliance might not be enough.

Prediction: Arsenal to win 2-1.

Head-to-head history

Last season’s league meetings between these sides both ended 1-1, with Declan Rice controversially sent off at the Emirates and Ethan Nwaneri scoring in the reverse fixture. Their last Carabao Cup encounter came in November 2022, when Brighton stunned Arsenal 3-1 in North London.

Overall record:

For all the data and narrative symmetry, this tie feels like one shaped by trajectory. Arsenal’s is upward and accelerating. Brighton’s remains uncertain, capable of beauty but still searching for balance.