Arsenal 1-3 Brighton: Seagulls come from behind in Carabao Cup clash
Arsenal 1-3 Brighton: Gunners crash out of the Carabao Cup as Seagulls come from behind thanks to goals from Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma and Tariq Lamptey after Eddie Nketiah’s opener
- Eddie Nketiah opened the scoring before Danny Welbeck netted a penalty
- Substitute Kaoru Mitoma hit Arsenal on the break to put Brighton ahead
- Tariq Lamptey sealed the win after 71 minutes to dump Arsenal out of the cup
This was not how Mikel Arteta wanted to sign-off from the Emirates for the next couple of months.
Not for a while has there has been much reason for Arsenal supporters to grow irritable and impatient here – nine straight home victories have been the platform to their brilliant campaign.
This defeat does not undo all that good work. In fact, more fixtures is the last thing they need.
Brighton are into the next round of the Carabao Cup after coming from behind to beat Arsenal
Arsenal opened the scoring before Brighton fired back with three goals including from Japanese substitute Kaoru Mitoma (pictured) who came off the bench to put them ahead
It is the first time that Mikel Arteta’s side have lost at the Emirates so far this season
But it didn’t feel that way on Wednesday night as Arsenal, a much-changed Arsenal in fairness, were put away by Brighton who are starting to click into gear under Roberto De Zerbi.
It took the Italian six matches to secure a first win. He now has three in three and this was another mightily encouraging display.
Both sides made changes but it was Brighton who were the more slick, fluid side.
They fell behind to Eddie Nketiah’s 11th goal in 12 Carabao Cup appearances but battled back brilliantly, albeit with a helping hand from Arsenal’s debutant goalkeeper Karl Hein.
Eddie Nketiah opened the scoring after 20 minutes following a bursting Reiss Nelson run
The Carabao Cup gave youngsters like Marquinhos (left) the chance to prove themselves
Arsenal debutant Karl Hein slipped and caught Danny Welbeck to give away a penalty
His slip and foul allowed Danny Welbeck to equalise and then after the break Kaoru Mitoma and Tariq Lamptey pulled Brighton clear.
And so, in their final home game before the World Cup, Arsenal crash out of a competition they haven’t won since 1993.
This tie came to life in a seven-minute spell, midway through the first-half, and bleeding through it all, at both ends, was Arsenal’s Hale End academy. First, graduates Reiss Nelson and Nketiah combined to devastating effect.
Welbeck made no mistake from the penalty spot to convert past Hein to level the scoring
Arsenal dominated the start of the second-half before Brighton and Mitoma hit them on the break
Lamptey (right) sealed the win after 71 minutes to send Arsenal out of the competition
MATCH FACTS
Arsenal: Hein 5; Cedric 6, Saliba 7 (Gabriel 63, 6), Holding 6, Tierney 6.5 (Zinchenko 72, 6); Vieira 5 (Jesus 72, 6), Elneny 6.5, Lokonga 6 (Xhaka 80, 6.5); Marquinhos 5 (Martinelli 62, 6.5), Nketiah 7, Nelson 7
Subs not used: White, Partey, Odegaard, Turner
Goals: Nketiah 20
Yellow: Hein, Elneny
Red: None
Manager: Mikel Arteta 5
Brighton: Steele 7; Veltman 6, Dunk 6.5 (Webster 60, 7), Colwill 6.5, Lamptey 7.5; March 6 (Mitoma 45, 8), Caicedo 7 (Gross 45, 6), Gilmour 7, Sarmiento 7.5 (Undav 79, 6); Enciso 7.5 (Estupinan 76, 6), Welbeck 7.5
Subs not used: Sanchez, Ferguson, Turns, Moran
Goals: Welbeck 27, Mitoma 58, Lamptey 71
Yellow: Caicedo, Sarmiento
Red: None
Manager: Roberto De Zerbi 7
Referee: Jarred Gillett 6
After Rob Holding won possession inside his own half, and Brighton demanded a foul, Nelson beat one challenge brilliantly before driving 50 yards towards the opposition area. He slipped a pass into Nketiah, who curled the ball quite brilliantly into the far corner.
If that goal served as an advert for the confidence and technique bred into young Arsenal players, pity poor Hein, whose first contribution was an exhibition in misfortune and miscalculation.
The 20-year-old Estonian, making his first-team debut after four years in north London, slipped as Welbeck chased a ball in behind. He then climbed to his feet in time to trip the former Arsenal forward. Welbeck stroked the spot-kick home; parity was the least Brighton deserved, in truth.
They had started the quicker, with Jeremy Sarmiento and Julio Enciso particularly bright. The two youngsters, both of South American heritage, combined early on to create a chance for Welbeck, who was denied only by Kieran Tierney’s desperate block.
Moments later, Enciso squandered a free header from inside the six-yard box. Brighton continued to show adventure and invention, while Arsenal were hesitant and lacking fluency.
They improved after the break and created a flurry of early chances. Nketiah hit the post and Nelson had a header brilliantly saved by Jason Steele.
But then, out of nothing, Brighton took the lead. Mitoma, sent on at the break, finished a slick counter-attack, curling home from an almost identical position as Nketiah. Before victory was secured by Lamptey who, with 19 minutes to go, slid the ball past Hein from a tight angle.
The Gunners have not won the English League cup since the 1992-1993 season
The likes of Gabriel Jesus came off the bench but failed to help turn the game around
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