Arsenal v Brighton, numbers dwindling.

Morning all.

I love a domestic cup regardless of which one it is. League form goes out the window in so many ways because managers make changes. They have to because the season is long and hard, especially for the clubs involved in European competitions as well as those with many a player oft called up for international duty. As said yesterday, Brighton aren’t involved in European football although I bet their fans would love to be and this competition offers them the best opportunity of doing so, even if it’s the Europa Conference League. Personally, I think Brighton are better than their league position of 13th suggests. They’ve beaten the likes of Man City, Chelsea and Newcastle so I expect another tough night for Mikel Arteta’s players.

One has to go back to 1993 to find a League Cup trophy with Arsenal’s name engraved on it which can only be described as poor. 32 years, ouch.

Arsene Wenger managed to reach the final three times I think but each time, we were beaten. The worst defeat was against Birmingham. Enough about that eh..

I’ve only ever been to one League Cup fixture which was when Arsenal travelled to The Madejski Stadium to face Reading. I was sat in with the home fans on my lonesome, the rest of my family together in a different part of the stadium. As one, two, three, four home goals were scored, my phone was pinging. I was dreading the journey home together. Just before half-time, Theo Walcott made it 4-1. Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny scored to make it 4-3 and the atmosphere in the stadium changed dramatically. Walcott popped up with another and as the final whistle blew, it was 4-4. Into extra time and Marouane Chamakh scored to give Arsenal the lead for the first time on the night but then Pavel Pogrebnyak drew Reading level again. A bonkers match, it really was. With five minutes to go, Walcott completed his hat trick before Chamakh made the result safe.

Needless to say, my journey home was enjoyable.

At the time I thought it would be years before Arsenal scored seven goals in one match again but then lo and behold, Newcastle turned up at The Emirates just a couple of months later and Arsenal put seven past them too. Walcott with another hat-trick. A victory made much sweeter as Alan Pardew was the manager of Newcastle. Much missed Adam disliked him, as do I. Television adverts are his thing now. I digress…

What can we expect from tonight’s opponents?

Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:

Hurzeler is locked in with a 4-2-3-1 formation, using it in every match this season. In possession, it can look like a 3-3-4 or 4-2-4, but the Seagulls’ starting point is always that preferred shape. Hurzeler’s men look better suited to a transitional style, and averaging 46.8% possession, Hurzeler is far less interested in controlling matches than his predecessors and instead focuses on developing a pressing game. 

Brighton make the second-most pressed sequences, boast the third-lowest passes per defensive action and have created 13 shots from high turnovers – the highest figure of any Premier League team. Snappy in the tackle, well organised and athletic enough to pounce on turnovers quickly, Brighton are set up to turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye.

Brighton have scored in all but one game, so their consistent goal threat is a major strength. Ranked fifth for expected goals, they can unsettle anyone on their day. Yankuba Minteh, a vibrant and destructive presence on the right wing, has been in phenomenal form during 2025/26, and with seven successful crosses is somebody that needs to be closed down tightly, as does flying left-back Ferdi Kadioglu.

Hurzeler’s side have been slow starters in league action, suffering a -4 goal difference up until half-time. Better at coming on strong, 80% of their Premier League strikes have come in the second half. Brighton must also improve at breaking down sides that allow them possession. Since the start of 2024/25 they have averaged 1.05 points per game when having over 50% possession. By contrast, when they have the minority share, the Seagulls average 2.33 points.

Speaking at yesterday’s press conference, Mikel Arteta gave an update on William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli:

He’s (Saliba) out, we are assessing him, but he won’t be involved in this match. It looks like he’s (Martinelli) going to be out as well. We have to do some more tests and see the extent of the injury, but this game is going to be too early for him.

Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori are fit for selection. Whether they start or not remains to be seen. With player numbers dwindling by the game, it’s likely all three will be involved at some stage. Anyway, another tough test for Arsenal, one I hope we come through.

Catch up in the comments.