Arteta surprised most of us by making wholesale changes from Sundays team, 10 in fact. Dowman became our youngest ever starter, with Harriman-Annous, also starting, an older, wiser head, at 17.
Kepa
White Mosquera Hincapié MLS
Nwaneri Nørgaard Merino
Dowman Harriman-Annous Eze
Arsenal started brightly. With the first effort from Merino on 3 minutes. Quickly though, the relative lack of understanding between our much-changed team allowed Brighton to gain the upper hand. On 7 minutes, Rutter received the ball in space wide on the right, but a poor first touch saw him push it too far towards Kepa who saved comfortably. Shortly after, they managed a fast break from an Arsenal corner and Tzimas struck his shot wide. The Arsenal midfield was looking pretty ragged at this point, with Nørgaard struggling. Arsenal calmed the game for the next 10 minutes.
One concern I had in the first half was that as a result of the Brighton press, Kepa kept hitting his long passes out to Dowman who, with the best will in the world is not going to beat a full-grown man in the air. MLS was having trouble with the physicality of Rutter. Dowman got into the game as the first half progressed and started doing his trademark jinks past defenders. Beautiful to watch, but not coming to anything as we were pretty disjointed and I thought curiously enervated. Arsenal still looked susceptible to quick breaks straight through the midfield as the half continued. On 39 minutes, Brighton had a corner, Kepa leapt but got nowhere near it, and Brighton should have scored. As half time approached, Dowman and White combined on the right, the former making a superb run in from the right-hand side, reverse passing to White who hit a poor cross.
The first half was much the same as Palace – pretty low energy and ponderous and on another day we might have conceded 2 or even 3 goals. That said, Dowman was a real shining light. Nobody else was, although with just the 10 changes from Sunday’s line up, including 2 youngsters, it was perhaps unsurprising.
Half Time: Arsenal 0 Brighton 0
The second half arrived with no changes from Arsenal in terms of personnel, but certainly in terms of approach and energy. Dowman slaughtered the left back for the umpteenth time, ran into the box and was taken down, arguably, but no pen given. It was superb skill and preceded by another wonderful flick on the touchline, taking out his marker. Watch the highlights. He is going to be some player. At the other end, the unimpressive Nørgaard gave the ball away and only Mosquera’s excellent defending stopped a shot on target. It had become an open game now, with both sides attacking and going for the win. Nwaneri was coming more into the game and on 57 minutes he broke the deadlock with a superb strike from the left-hand side of the box, following a whip-smart move down the left involving Eze, Merino and MLS.
Arsenal 1 Brighton 0
On 68 minutes, dilly dallying in the midfield saw us being robbed up the pitch in our half, but they couldn’t capitalise. At this point, Brighton made a raft of substitutions and Arteta answered, with Dowman, White and Hincapié off, Saka, Timber and Gabriel on. After only a few minutes, the wisdom of these subs became apparent, as following an amazing run from Timber, fully 50 yards, followed by a perfect pass behind the Brighton defence, Harriman Annous ran onto it and shot but the keeper saved and the rebound came back to Saka to slam home.
Arsenal 2 Brighton 0
Arsenal played the game out with the only highlight being a thirty yarder from Trossard which beat the keeper and bounced back off the post.
It was nice to get one over on Hurzeler after repulsive post-match comments after the league game at The Emirates last season. I thought the crowd chant describing Brighton as just a not-so-good Crystal Palace was very funny. And for future reference, Fabian, just because your mum bought you a jumper for Christmas, you don’t have to wear it on TV.
Thanks CER, lightning quick and covering the main points, we won 2-0, it was not surprisingly a bit disjointed at times, Dowman’s a rare talent, a couple of nice goals, fans are amusing and Hruzeler deserves the nothing he got.
Palace in the quarters, a difficult draw just now but I’m pleased we’re at home
Very fair and enjoyable report CER. It was interesting to see how far our very inexperienced starting eleven would take us and they did take us into the lead. When the cavalry arrived we looked far too good for them .
Dowman’s performance was a delight he may be the youngest person to play in the World Cup! I also thought the other younger players grew into the game after a slow start. I was impressed with Kepa’s handling but Nørgaard was clearly very short of match practice hence we were opened up several times in the first half. In the second we were much better and started to dominate .
I want to get a replica of Hurzeler’s jumper as I have been asked to dress a Guy for a fireworks display next week. That was a crime against fashion . On to Palace!
Thanks for the report, CER, which fills me in on a game I wasn’t able to see and perhaps I did not miss much. That jumper looks like something Scott Parker would wear on steroids, appropriately enough (the jumper not Parker being what was on steroids, obviously).
I’ve always loved the League Cup. It was the kick starter that got George Graham’s team going in the eighties and that culminated with Anfield 89. The early Wenger years were full of young players being given their chances in the League Cup and I remember getting my first glimpse of Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas in this competition. Who can forget Theo’s thrilling goal against Chelsea in the final? Because of this policy we haven’t won this Cup anywhere near as much as we should have, but the trade off has been this early glimpse of young talent.
And so it was last night. Arteta shocked us with the team selection, particularly that of 17 year old Harriman-Annous. With Saka coming on later, that made four Hale End graduates in the first team in a sold out ground against Premier League opposition. All of them did great.
Seriously we’ve been saying this for a while and it was by no means my first viewing of him in the flesh but just how good is Max Dowman? A seriously exciting, no fear, take them on player that seems a throwback. He’s a quick, balanced, two footed player who goes both ways and makes you catch your breath as you see him. It’s quite ridiculous that he is not yet 16. How high is his limit?
Another truly enjoyable night at the Emirates. October’s been good to us. Played six, won six, goals against nil, goals for twelve.
I’m in dreamland and just enjoying it one game at a time.
Thanks CER,
I only got to see the highlights but two well taken goals, a clean sheet and some minutes for the youngsters – what’s not to like.
The jumper was a sixties throwback but then who didn’t want a Starsky jumper from that era – I nagged my mother to make me one!
UTA.
Pleased for Ethan when I realized it was his first of the season.
Also, it’s good that MA can still surprise us!
Have a heart boys, I know you’re all in stitches but I’m coming apart at the seams here 😢
Thanks for the report CER. It was a match that I struggled to see on a postage stamp sized screen because the red button failed to operate as advertised to allow me to move from Sky’s ‘Micro-view’ to a full screen but I have now seen Dotcom’s 2 minutes highlights that showed the two lovely goals but nothing of Dowman’s involvement nor a glimpse of Hurler’s fashion sense. It’s good to hear that Dowman strutted his stuff in this company and that Harriman Annous also displayed quality – indeed his movement onto Timber’s pass in behind and shot from which Saka scored the rebound off the keeper was impressive while The Hale End created first goal assisted by an elegant back heel by Merino was a thing of beauty.
I’m really bored with the whole world’s knee-slide celebration of scoring a goal and laughed at the same from Harry Maguire recently. Twat.
On a more serious note, why would someone like Saka, with all his recent knee issues risk another injury by also doing one and why wouldn’t managers ban them to protect players from unnecessary risk?
Time for something new boys. Putting a “mask” on doesn’t risk injury – smart move Viktor.
Rant over.
UTA.
Cheers CER – a super quick summary of the match. Mikel’s team selection and strong bench a very astute way to play it ( when it comes off ). All those who needed playing time or a rest were duly rewarded. Also some pleasing results from the other fixtures.
October has been a great month for the team, ably assisted by having mainly home fixtures. Let’s hope we can keep on a roll with the upcoming away fixtures in November.
Noosa’s remarks above regarding the celebratory knee slides. To the uninitiated as myself it does appear to be a risky manoeuvre for potential knee injury but does not appear to be banned by any of the coaches of top teams. Does our resident medical expert Trev have a view on this – is it very risky??
Re the knee slide in the famous match in 98/99 where we beat United 3-2 , Patrick Vieira hit a stunning strike, did a huge knee slide , got carried off @nd was out for several weeks. Rather like shirt removal the elation seems to grab players and they do it without thinking of the consequences
Some very interesting thoughts from Coach Mike about last night’s game. A rave review for Dowman.
https://gunnerstown.com/arsenal/2025/10/30/the-joy-of-predictability-positives-needs-hopes-ars-2-0-bha-efl-cup/
C100
Thanks for attaching Mike’s thoughts . He is the first person to agree that Dowman could make the World Cup. If he plays enough he will unless Arteta / Tuchel agree he is too young . But I don’t think Tuchel will .
Blimey Theo Walcott made the World Cup squad as a teenager and how much better is Dowman than he was?
Here’s a lovely story about Dowman’s journey so far
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/30/max-dowman-journey-billericay-to-history-with-arsenal
Seriously can anybody remember any Arsenal youngster as good as MD at the same age?
All the ones I can think of (and actually saw) are midfielders. Brady? Cesc? LJW?
I hope Arsenal becomes the Real Madrid of the 2030s, where all the elite players want to be, and we get to see the twenty-something Dowman in his pomp.
It is also ridiculous to remember that he doesn’t turn 20 until 2029.
I would prefer he didn’t go to the World Cup, if only because a summer break would probably be good for his body.
Dowman now is better than Walcott was at his “peak”. To my mind, Dowman should be given space and not even considered for England, until he ui old enough to manage all the concomitant media b/s.
Thanks for the link @12 C100
Some good thoughts as ever from Mike.
Personally, I doubt Max will go to the World Cup as I don’t
think he will play enough in the PL to be considered. However,
he could go to the 4 or 5 after that! I hope I’m still around to
watch 👴🏻
And in answer to Mike’s final question – I wouldn’t sign Semenyo
in January though – I would think about it for next summer if he
maintains his progress.
I’m with OM @19. I don’t think it is at all in Max Dowman’s interests to go to the World Cup. Remember the circus that developed around Walcott’s inclusion? – I don’t think that did Theo any good at all. I think Arsenal alone should entirely manage Max’s development until he reaches voting age.
I see rumours that we have discovered another stash of notes under the Arsenal sofa and people are desperate to spend it. Semenyo is on everyone’s lips. He looks a good player but OM is correct again that we should see if he can maintain that form throughout the season. Meanwhile we will be trying to reintegrate Ødegaard, Havertz and Jesús by then.
Thanks CER – nothing to disagree with at all. Return from holiday and to work have made me a bit late to read but I did manage to watch the game ‘full screen’ on Sky’s Red Button option. It did stall once but a quick exit and return sorted it out. It must be my well known technical expertise ! If only it extended beyond switch the thing off and back on again 🤷♂️
Hurzeler’s jumper was the same colour as his usual manners – a bit shit.
Noosa, Uply – on the celebratory knee slide. I have commented on it before in the bar and find it a crazy thing to do especially in light of our recent history with knee injuries. I was amazed to see Saka do it on Wednesday. That thrust of the femur forwards over the head of the tibia is classic ACL territory. If I was head physio at Arsenal it would be banned.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>