Arsenal vs Brighton Match Preview
League leaders Arsenal host Brighton at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening for a Carabao Cup fourth round tie.
The Gunners avoided an upset against Port Vale in their opening match of the competition, while Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls arrive in north London on the back of back-to-back 6-0 victories, a record in EFL Cup history.
Mikel Arteta’s side are flying high domestically, unbeaten in ten and winning seven on the bounce in all competitions. Their latest success, a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, maintained a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Arsenal’s last EFL Cup triumph came in 1993, but their squad’s depth and current momentum suggest this could be their best opportunity in years to add silverware mid-season.
Brighton, meanwhile, have already made competition history by becoming the first team to win consecutive EFL Cup matches by six or more goals. Their 6-0 demolition of Oxford United was followed by another ruthless display against Barnsley, where Diego Gomez scored four – the first player to do so in an EFL Cup away match since Julio Baptista for Arsenal in 2007.
However, the Seagulls’ relationship with the fourth round has been far from good, they have failed to reach the quarter-finals since 1978-79 and have been knocked out at this stage in four of the last five campaigns.
Their recent 4-2 defeat to Manchester United ended a five-match unbeaten run, although previous visits to the Emirates in this competition have brought success – including a 3-1 victory in 2022.
Team news for Arsenal vs Brighton
Arsenal’s victory over Palace was accompanied by a heavy injury toll. William Saliba, Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli all received knocks, although the first three were likely to be rested regardless.
They join long-term absentees Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines, leaving Arteta short of options but still able to rotate effectively.
Expect Piero Hincapie to make his full debut, while teenage star Ethan Nwaneri could feature on the wing after impressing in previous rounds.
Brighton’s injury situation is improving slightly. Kaoru Mitoma, Joel Veltman and Brajan Gruda are all set to return and could make the matchday squad, but Jack Hinshelwood, Solly March and Adam Webster remain long-term absentees.
Veteran James Milner and four-goal hero Diego Gomez are both in contention to start after coming off the bench in the weekend’s defeat at Old Trafford.
Expected line-ups for Arsenal vs Brighton
Arsenal: Képa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Eze, Norgaard, Merinos; Nwaneri, Gyokeres, Trossard
Brighton: Steel ; Wieffer, Dunk, Boscagli, De Cuyper; Milner, Ayari; Gomez, Rutter, Minteh; Welbeck
How to watch Arsenal v Brighton: TV channel, online streaming
The match kicks off at 7.45pm (UK time) on Wednesday October 30, live from the Emirates Stadium.
In the UK, the match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event, with live streaming available via the Sky Go app and NOW TV for subscribers.
Arsenal vs Brighton match statistics
- Arsenal is undefeated in their last 10 games in all competitions
- The Gunners kept five consecutive clean sheetsscoring 15 goals during this period
- Brighton scored 12 goals in two EFL Cup matchesboth ending 6-0
- The seagulls have haven’t reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals since 1979
- Arsenal’s last home defeat against Brighton took place November 2022 (3-1, EFL Cup)
- Diego Gomez five goals in his last three appearances for Brighton
Prediction
Even with injuries forcing rotation, Arsenal’s depth and current confidence make them difficult to stop at the Emirates.
Brighton’s attacking form in the competition cannot be ignored, but the Seagulls’ defensive inconsistencies, particularly away from home, could prove costly.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Brighton
