In a significant moment for Arsenal, Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous made their first starts for the club as manager Mikel Arteta opted for a heavily rotated squad in the Carabao Cup clash against Brighton & Hove Albion. Dowman, at just 15 years and 302 days old, set a club record as the youngest player to start a match for Arsenal, while 17-year-old Harriman-Annous, who has been with the academy since he was eight, also made his full debut.
The match featured Mikel Merino taking on captaincy duties for the first time as he led a side that saw ten changes from the previous game. Kepa Arrizabalaga stepped in for David Raya as the goalkeeper, having made his debut in the last round of the competition against Port Vale.
Arsenal’s defense comprised Ben White, Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera, and Myles Lewis-Skelly. The midfield saw Merino partnered with Christian Norgaard and Ethan Nwaneri, while the attacking trio included Eberechi Eze, alongside the young talents of Dowman and Harriman-Annous, rounding out the squad for the 250th League Cup fixture.
Brighton & Hove Albion also made significant changes in their lineup, with manager Fabian Hurzeler introducing six new players, including Jason Steele, Stefanos Tzimas, and Olivier Boscagli, in their quest to challenge Arsenal.
As preparations were finalized ahead of kick-off, fans were encouraged to stay informed with a match preview highlighting key statistics, a tactical overview of Brighton, and details on live TV coverage. This match not only marks a milestone for the young players but also showcases Arsenal’s commitment to nurturing and promoting homegrown talent.