Arsenal's Youth-Rich XI Set to Face Brighton in Carabao Cup Fourth Round

On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 7:45 PM UTC, Arsenal hosts Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup Fourth Round at Emirates Stadium in London, with over 59,000 fans expected to pack the stands. The match, officiated by referee Samuel Barrott, isn’t just another cup tie—it’s a statement game for two teams with wildly different priorities. Arsenal, fresh off a 1-0 win over Brighton in September and still reeling from a stunning 3-1 defeat at Falmer in January, is using this fixture to test its next generation. And Brighton? They’re hunting momentum after a rocky start to the Premier League season.

Arsenal’s Youth Experiment Goes Live

Mikel Arteta didn’t just pick a team—he assembled a statement. At 15, Myles Lewis-Skelly starts in midfield. At 17, Nigerian forward Atebubu Annous leads the line. And at 18, Ethan Nwaneri, already a Premier League veteran, slots in beside him. This isn’t a squad rotation. It’s a declaration.

Arteta confirmed Gabriel Martinelli’s absence due to injury, but the bigger story is who he chose to play instead. Mikel Merino, 28, wears the armband—not because he’s the natural leader, but because the senior stars are being rested. The defense? Ben White, Cristian Mosquera, and Piero Hincapié—all capable, but none first-choice in the league. Kepa Arrizabalaga, the 31-year-old Spaniard, gets the nod over David Raya, a sign Arsenal’s priority here is development, not silverware.

The substitutions tell their own story. Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri came off at 57 minutes—not because they were tired, but because Arteta wanted fresh legs in the final third. White, Mosquera, and Hincapié were replaced at the 70th minute. Morgan Dowman, 19, came on for the final 20 minutes. Annous entered at 77. Eberechi Eze, the only proven Premier League performer in the starting XI, was pulled at 83. This wasn’t a tactical tweak. It was a controlled experiment.

Brighton’s Mystery XI and Tactical Puzzle

Here’s the odd part: we don’t know Brighton’s lineup. Not for sure. The Brighton & Hove Albion squad list remains unofficial as of matchday. BeSoccer’s December 2025 data shows Robert Sánchez and Kaoru Mitoma—but that’s from a completely different fixture. The Standard’s October 28 report doesn’t name Brighton’s XI at all.

Still, we can guess. Fabian Hürzeler, the 31-year-old German manager, favors a 4-2-3-1. Jason Steele, 34, is likely between the posts. Lewis Dunk, 33, will anchor the backline. Adam Webster and Pervis Estupiñán are almost certain starters. Mitoma, if fit, will terrorize the right flank. And with the Premier League season already into its 20th round, Brighton can’t afford to lose focus. They’re 12th in the table. A cup win could spark a turnaround.

Remember January? Brighton won 3-1 at the American Express Community Stadium. That was the match where they exposed Arsenal’s defensive fragility. Now, they face a completely different Arsenal—less experienced, less settled, but more dangerous in transition. Hürzeler’s side will look to exploit the gaps left by Arsenal’s youth-heavy midfield.

Why This Match Matters Beyond the Cup

This is the fourth meeting between the clubs in just nine months. First, a 2-2 draw at Emirates in August. Then, Arsenal’s 1-0 win in September. Then, Brighton’s 3-1 thrashing in January. Now, this. The pattern? Brighton’s confidence is rising. Arsenal’s consistency is slipping.

For Arsenal, this game is a litmus test for their academy. Can a 15-year-old hold his own in a high-stakes cup match? Can a 17-year-old striker score against a Premier League defense? If the answer is yes, Arteta’s rebuild is accelerating. If not, the pressure on the first team intensifies.

For Brighton, it’s about belief. They’ve beaten Arsenal twice in the last nine months. They’ve outplayed them in possession, in pressing, in creativity. A win here would signal they’re not just a team that can upset the giants—they’re becoming one that can outlast them.

What’s Next? The Ripple Effect

If Arsenal advances, they’ll face either Manchester United or Tottenham in the quarterfinals. A loss? It’ll be the second consecutive cup exit under Arteta—and the third in four years. That’s not just disappointing. It’s becoming a narrative.

Brighton, meanwhile, needs this. A cup run could buy Hürzeler time. The club’s board is watching. Fan sentiment is fragile. A win here could silence critics who say their style is too risky, too experimental.

And for the fans? This is football at its purest. A 15-year-old on the pitch. A 34-year-old goalkeeper holding the line. A manager betting on youth. A team chasing redemption. No stars. No hype. Just football.