Can Arsenal’s depth exploit high-scoring Brighton in the Carabao Cup?
Arsenal will shift focus from their Premier League title charge to the EFL Cup when they host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Top of the league and unbeaten in ten matches, Mikel Arteta’s side enter this tie full of confidence but aware that the challenge will be very different from the Premier League rhythm they have mastered.
The EFL Cup has not always been kind to Arsenal, yet this season presents a real opportunity to go far with the quality and depth at Arteta’s disposal.
Arsenal last lifted the competition in 1993, and while league and European ambitions remain the priority, the manager has stressed the importance of maintaining winning habits across all fronts.
This cup provides another platform for his players to show their hunger and depth, especially as the fixtures begin to pile up. The Gunners progressed past Port Vale in the previous round, with goals from Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard sealing a 2-0 victory.
They are expected to rotate again against Brighton, but the depth of this squad means any changes are unlikely to weaken their performance.
Players such as Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Piero Hincapie could be given chances to impress, while key regulars may be rested ahead of another busy run of fixtures.
Brighton arrive in North London as the competition’s standout entertainers. Fabian Hurzeler’s side have won back-to-back EFL Cup matches 6-0, first against Oxford United and then against Barnsley, making them the first team in the competition’s history to achieve that feat.
Diego Gomez scored four in the latter tie, continuing his breakout campaign in emphatic fashion.
However, Brighton have not reached the quarter-finals of this competition since 1979 and were beaten 4-2 by Manchester United in the Premier League at the weekend. Their adventurous style could make this a lively contest, but their recent defensive frailties might also leave openings for Arsenal to exploit.
Arsenal will be cautious too, remembering that Brighton knocked them out of the same competition in 2022. Yet this time, the Gunners approach with a stronger squad, sharper mindset, and genuine belief that they can compete on multiple fronts.
Arteta’s side have learned to win even when not at their best, and that resilience will again be tested against a Brighton team that plays with freedom and intent.
For Arsenal, though, this is a cup they should now be aiming to go deep in — and with the form and focus they currently possess, that ambition feels entirely realistic.
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