9th November 2022 – Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup
9 NOVEMBER 2022
CARABAO CUP, THIRD ROUND – at the EMIRATES STADIUM, LONDON, N5.
ARSENAL 1 ( Eddie Nketiah 1 – 20 mins )
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3 ( Danny Welbeck 1, penalty – 27 mins,
Kaoru Mitoma 1 – 58 mins
Tariq Lamptey 1 – 71 minutes )
As a change from their Premier League programme, the Albion were off to North London to meet Arsenal in a Carabao Cup, Third Round tie at the Emirates Stadium in a game broadcast “live” on BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
As usual in the Carabao Cup competition, the Albion made eight changes from the team which won 3-2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier on the 5 November, with Billy Gilmour and Jeremy Sarmiento making making first starts of the season.
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta made ten changes to his starting line-up from the team which won 1-0 at Chelsea in the Premier on the 6 November, giving a first-team debut to young Estonian goalkeeper Karl Hein.
With 6500 travelling fans behind them, the Albion flew out of the traps and early chances fell to Danny Welbeck, Julio Enciso (twice) and Jeremy Sarmiento to put the Seagulls ahead. On 20 minutes, a superb counter-attack saw Arsenal take the lead when Reiss Nelson’s run ended with Eddie Nketiah sending a curled shot past Jason Steele in the Albion goal.1-0.
The Seagulls were not behind for long when on 27 minutes a precise pass from Solly March sent Welbeck clear of the Arsenal back-line and as he arrived in the penalty area the Albion striker was fouled by goalkeeper Karl Hein and Welbeck converted the resultant penalty-kick for Albion’s equaliser and his first goal of the season. Keeper Hein received a yellow card for his troubles.1-1.
The home side bounced back from this set-back and Seagull defenders Joel Veltman, Levi Colwill and Lewis Dunk made fine interventions to keep Albion in the tie.
Half-time 1-1.
Albion made a double substitution at the start of the second-half, with Kaoru Mitoma and Pascal Gross replacing March and Moises Caicedo. Arsenal started the second-half in the ascendancy and Albion keeper Steele made two exceptional saves, firstly turning a strong Nketiah shot on to his post and then saving a close-range header from Nelson. Albert Sambi Lokonga then went close for the Gunners, fizzing a shot inches wide. On 58 minutes and against the run of play the Seagulls took the lead when a mazy run by Sarmiento ended with a pass to Mitoma who scored with a daisy-cutter of a shot to the
far corner. 2-1.
Twelve minutes later Albion scored a third when the sprightly Tariq Lamptey got clear on the left and his superb run ended with a low shot under keeper Hein and into the net for a likely game clincher. 3-1.
Although Arsenal huffed and puffed the Seagulls held firm during the closing minutes and another well-deserved win in North London.
Final-score 3-1.
Albion had 13 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded – 8.
Arsenal had 22 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 8 corners, free-kicks conceded – 13.
TO SUM UP – Albion enjoy their trips to North London these days, having won at Arsenal and Spurs last season. This Carabao Cup win showed that Albion’s “fringe” players were better than Arsenal’s.
An excellent win for the Albion and their reward is a trip to Charlton Athletic in the Fourth Round of the competition, on or about the 21December 2022.
Albion line-up (4-4-2):- Jason Steele; Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk (Capt) (Adam Webster 60), Levi Colwill, Tariq Lamptey; Solly March (Kaoru Mitoma 46), Billy Gilmouir, Moises Caicedo (Pascal Gross 46),Jeremy Sarmiento (Deniz Undav 79); Julio Enciso (Pervis Estupinan 76), Danny Welbeck.
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (G/K), Evan Ferguson, Ed Turns, Andrew Moran.
Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1):- Karl Hein; Cedric Soares, William Saliba (Gabriel Maghalaes 63), Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney (Oleksandr Zinchenko 72); Mohamed Elneny, Albert Sambi Lokonga (Granit Xhaka 80); Marquinhos (Gabriel Martinelli 62), Fabio Vieira (Gabriel Jesus 72), Reiss Nelson; Eddie Nketiah.
Subs not used: Matt Turner (G/K), Ben White, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Queensland, Australia).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 – Moises Caicedo, Jeremy Sarmiento.
Arsenal: 2 – Karl Hein, Mohamed Elneny.