Match Preview for Arsenal v Brighton
League leaders Arsenal welcome Brighton to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night 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 fresh from back-to-back 6-0 wins, a record-breaking run in EFL Cup history.
Mikel Arteta’s side are flying high domestically, unbeaten in ten and winning seven on the bounce across all competitions. Their latest success, a hard-fought 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, maintained a four-point cushion at the Premier League summit.
Arsenal’s last EFL Cup triumph came back in 1993, but their squad depth and current momentum suggest this could be their best opportunity in years to add mid-season silverware.
Brighton, meanwhile, have already made competition history by becoming the first side ever to win consecutive EFL Cup games by six or more goals. Their 6-0 demolition of Oxford United was followed by another ruthless display against Barnsley, where Diego Gomez netted four – the first player to do so in an away EFL Cup tie since Julio Baptista for Arsenal in 2007.
However, the Seagulls’ relationship with the fourth round has been less than kind, they’ve failed to reach the quarter-finals since 1978-79 and have exited at this stage in four of the last five campaigns.
Their recent 4-2 defeat to Manchester United ended a five-match unbeaten run, though past visits to the Emirates in this competition have brought success – notably a 3-1 win in 2022.
Team news for Arsenal v Brighton
Arsenal’s victory over Palace came with a heavy injury toll. William Saliba, Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori, and Gabriel Martinelli all picked up knocks, though 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 on 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 easing slightly. Kaoru Mitoma, Joel Veltman, and Brajan Gruda are all nearing returns 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 defeat at Old Trafford.
Expected line-ups for Arsenal v Brighton
Arsenal: Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Eze, Norgaard, Merino; Nwaneri, Gyokeres, Trossard
Brighton: Steele; Wieffer, Dunk, Boscagli, De Cuyper; Milner, Ayari; Gomez, Rutter, Minteh; Welbeck
How to watch Arsenal v Brighton: TV channel, online stream
The match kicks off at 7:45pm (UK time) on Wednesday, October 30, live from the Emirates Stadium.
In the UK, the game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event, with live streaming available through the Sky Go app and NOW TV for subscribers
The stats for Arsenal v Brighton
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 10 games across all competitions
- The Gunners have kept five consecutive clean sheets, scoring 15 goals in that time
- Brighton have scored 12 goals in two EFL Cup games, both ending 6-0
- The Seagulls have not reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals since 1979
- Arsenal’s last home defeat to Brighton came in November 2022 (3–1, EFL Cup)
- Diego Gomez has five goals in his last three appearances for Brighton
Prediction
Even with injuries forcing rotation, Arsenal’s depth and current confidence make them tough to stop at the Emirates.
Brighton’s attacking form in the competition can’t be ignored, but the Seagulls’ defensive inconsistencies, especially away from home, could prove costly.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Brighton
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