Brighton & Hove Albion have won four of their last seven clash with Arsenal in North London, beaten there only twice since 2017, including knocking the Gunners out of the League Cup in 2022.
Arsenal vs Brighton preview
Arsenal, amazingly, have only ever won the League Cup twice, hoisting this trophy aloft in 1987 and 1993. Since the latter, they've been defeated in three finals and seven semi-finals, including last season, demolished 4-0 on aggregate by Newcastle, but will Gooners be returning to Wembley on 22 March? Well, Mikel Arteta's team began this Carabao Cup campaign by swatting aside Port Vale 2-0 last month, thanks to goals from Eberechi Eze and then Leandro Trossard at Vale Park.
Meantime, the Gunners boast a perfect record in the Champions League, winning three out of three without conceding, and are sitting four points clear at the top of the Premier League table. On a weekend where Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea all lost, Arsenal took care of business, beating Crystal Palace 1-0 with, who else, Eberechi Eze scoring a spectacular winner. Here, can Arsenal claim an eight successive victory across all competitions and book their place in the last eight?
As for Brighton & Hove Albion, they are currently the Carabao Cup's top-scorers, having annihilated both Oxford United and Barnsley 6-0 away from home to date, albeit a repeat of that scoreline seems unlikely. The Seagulls are aiming to reach a first EFL Cup quarter-final since 1978, having fallen at this hurdle in four of the last five seasons, thereby seeking to avoid déjà vu in the capital.
In the Premier League, Fabian Hürzeler's team have really struggled for consistency, underlined by the fact that they've won three, drawn three and lost three so far. The Albion saw their four match unbeaten run come to an end on Saturday, smashed by Manchester United at Old Trafford. They were 3-0 down by the time a spectacular Danny Welbeck free-kick followed by Charalampos Kostoulas' glancing header set up a grand stand finish, only for Man United to cement victory by scoring again straight away. Here, Brighton will be backed by 8,000 supporters who are making the trip to North London on Wednesday night, so can the Seagulls knock out the Premier League leaders?
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion head-to-head record
- Matches Played: 32.
- Arsenal Wins: 17. Draws: 7. Brighton & Hove Albion Wins: 8.
Arsenal team news
Kepa Arrizabalaga will make just his second Arsenal appearance in goal, while there could be an entirely new back four. Benjamin White and Myles Lewis-Skelly will come in at full-back while, with Gabriel and William Saliba carrying knocks, Cristhian Mosquera is likely to parter Piero Hincapié in the middle, the latter making his full debut, after a second brief cameo appearance at the weekend.
In attack, Mikel Arteta's options are less plentiful. Martin Ødegaard, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are all still sidelined, Gabriel Martinelli picked up and injury against Crystal Palace, while Bukayo Saka only lasted 65 minutes on Sunday having been suffering with illness for a few days.
So, could there be a start for 15 year old Max Dowman, who has come off the bench against Leeds, Liverpool and Port Vale already this season? Christian Nørgaard will come into midfield while, in attack, if Arteta believes Viktor Gyökeres needs a rest, Mikel Merino is likely to spearhead the attack. White, Leandro Trossard and Gyökeres will all come up against their former club.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brighton & Hove Albion: (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga, White, Mosquera, Hincapié, Lewis-Skelly; Nørgaard, Rice, Nwaneri; Saka, Trossard, Merino.
Arsenal player to watch vs Brighton
It is set to be a big night for Ethan Nwaneri, who has only seen 21 minutes of action across the last five Premier League games. In the absence of Ødegaard, it has been Eberechi Eze deployed centrally, but Nwaneri has plenty to offer, so can he stake a claim for more minutes in this cup tie?
Brighton team news
Fabian Hürzeler has made wholesale changes in previous rounds against Oxford United and Barnsley, so it'll be interesting to see what he goes for given the increased difficulty level of this tie.
Summer signings Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli are set to start at centre-back, as they have done throughout this competition, with Diego Gómez, scorer of a hat-trick at Oakwell last month, coming into midfield.
The Seagulls though are without injured Joël Veltman, Adam Webster, Jack Hinshelwood, Solly March, Brajan Gruda and Kaoru Mitoma, hence why teenager Nehemiah Oriola was on the bench at Old Trafford, making up the numbers.
Brighton & Hove Albion predicted lineup vs Arsenal: (4-3-3): Steele; Wieffer, Boscagli, Coppola, Kadıoğlu; Milner, Ayari, Gómez; Minteh, Watson, Kostoulas.
Brighton player to watch vs Arsenal
James Milner came off the bench for his 645th Premier League appearance on Saturday, now just eight behind Gareth Barry's all-time record. Meantime, this will be the 39 year old's 46th EFL Cup outing, featuring in the competition for six different clubs, first doing so in 2003, winning the trophy twice, so can he help the Albion knock out the Arsenal?
Arsenal vs Brighton prediction
This tie could certainly go either-way, but we are backing Arsenal to, just about, get over the line and book their place in the quarter-finals, although it won't be easy: Arsenal 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion.
Arsenal vs Brighton FAQs - Carabao Cup
How to watch Arsenal vs Brighton in the Carabao Cup on TV channel?
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: Sky Sports+
- USA: Paramount+
- Canada: DAZN Canada
How to watch Arsenal vs Brighton in the Carabao Cup on live streaming?
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: SkyGo & NOW TV.
- USA: Paramount+
- Canada: DAZN Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Arsenal vs Brighton in the Carabao Cup?
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion takes place on Wednesday 29 October 2025, with kick off at 19:45 (GMT), 15:45 (EDT) & 12:45 (PDT).