Mikel Arteta Celebrates ‘Beautiful Evening’ as Arsenal Win Brighton in Carabao Cup

Arteta hails Arsenal youth and depth after a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Brighton that secured a spot in the quarter-finals.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrated what he called a “beautiful evening” after his youthful Arsenal side win over Brighton 2-0 in the Carabao Cup to book their place in the quarter-finals. The victory, achieved through second-half goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka, showcased the squad’s depth and the exciting rise of academy talent.

The Emirates Stadium was buzzing with energy as Arteta handed opportunities to several promising players. The night’s biggest talking point was the historic debut of 15-year-old Max Dowman, who became Arsenal’s youngest-ever starter in a senior match.

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Arteta described Dowman’s performance as “special,” applauding his composure and maturity. Fellow Hale End graduate Ethan Nwaneri opened the scoring with a clinical finish after a flowing team move, while Bukayo Saka came off the bench to seal the win with a trademark strike.

“A beautiful evening for many reasons,” said Arteta post-match. “We are in the quarterfinals, we changed a lot of players, and they all performed brilliantly against a strong Premier League team.”

Squad Rotation Brings Results

Arteta’s heavy rotation proved effective as Arsenal controlled possession and maintained a clean sheet. Debutants Andre Harriman-Annous and Max Dowman impressed with their tactical awareness and energy, while senior players ensured composure and balance throughout.

Arteta highlighted the importance of developing future stars while keeping the team competitive on all fronts, crediting the win to the “mentality and hunger” shown by his younger players.

Arsenal’s Carabao Cup Ambition

The result sends Arsenal into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they will face Crystal Palace at home. It was a perfect mix of experience and youth—proof that Arsenal’s long-term project under Arteta is thriving.

As the Gunners continue their pursuit of silverware, Arteta’s “beautiful evening” symbolises a deeper success: the club’s unity, depth, and confidence in its next generation.

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