Arsenal 2-0 Brighton: Gunners Extend Unbeaten Run to 10 Matches in Carabao Cup

On a crisp Wednesday night at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal Football Club crushed Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club 2-0 to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches across all competitions — a run that includes eight straight wins and five consecutive clean sheets. The victory, sealed by goals from Yves Bissouma and Declan Rice, sent Arsenal into the Carabao Cup quarterfinals while leaving Brighton stranded at the fourth-round stage for the 47th year in a row. The match, played on the Carabao Cup fourth round Emirates Stadium, drew 60,000 fans to Holloway under lights at 7:45 PM BST — a perfect stage for Arsenal’s relentless machine.

Defensive Masterclass in the Spotlight

Arsenal didn’t just win — they made it look effortless. Head coach Mikel Arteta rotated heavily after Saturday’s gritty 3-2 win over Manchester United, fielding a side with ten new starters. Only Yves Bissouma, the 28-year-old Malian defensive midfielder, retained his place. He’d scored the winner against Crystal Palace just days earlier, and on this night, he was the engine. His 23rd-minute strike — a low, driven finish after a slick one-two with Bukayo Saka — broke the deadlock. It was his third goal in four games, and the kind of moment that turns solid midfielders into match-winners.

But the real story was the defense. Goalkeeper David Raya, the Spanish international signed from Brentford for £27 million in 2023, made a critical save in the 11th minute, diving full-stretch to his right to smother a curling effort from Pascal Groß. It was the only real chance Brighton created all night. Arsenal, who’ve conceded just three goals in all competitions this season, didn’t just shut them down — they suffocated them. Right-back Tyrone Mings was constantly covered by Declan Rice, who dropped deep like a third center-back. "They’re making the difficult look routine," said CBS Sports commentator during halftime. And honestly? That’s the definition of a title contender right now.

Brighton’s Long Drought Continues

For Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, it was another bitter end to a cup dream. Their last deep run in the Carabao Cup? 1978 — 47 years ago — when they lost to Nottingham Forest Football Club in the quarterfinals. Manager Fabian Hürzeler fielded his strongest available XI, including Kaoru Mitoma, the Japanese winger who scored his first goal for Brighton last weekend against Manchester United. Mitoma, who joined from Kawasaki Frontale for £3 million in 2022, was bright early, cutting inside with his trademark pace, but he was isolated. No support. No rhythm. The Seagulls’ passing was rushed, their movement predictable.

"They’ve got belief now," said one pundit post-match. "But belief doesn’t win trophies without structure." And that’s the gap. Arsenal’s system is calibrated. Brighton’s is still evolving. Hürzeler’s side have improved dramatically since their 2024 semi-final run, but this loss confirmed they’re not yet ready to break through. "We’re not here to make up the numbers," Hürzeler said after the final whistle. "But tonight, we were outclassed. That’s the reality."

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Let’s put this into perspective:

• Arsenal have now gone 10 matches without defeat — 8 wins, 2 draws — their longest unbeaten streak since 2004.
• They’ve kept five straight clean sheets, the longest streak in the Premier League since Manchester City’s 2022-23 campaign.
• Only three goals conceded in all competitions this season — the fewest by any top-flight English team through 15 matches since Liverpool in 2018-19.
• Brighton have now lost in the Carabao Cup fourth round in 11 of their last 12 appearances since 1978.
• Only one Arsenal player started both Saturday’s Premier League match and Wednesday’s cup game: Yves Bissouma.

Arteta’s rotation strategy is working. Players like Declan Rice — who sealed the win with a 68th-minute header from a Martin Ødegaard corner — are stepping up. Even the bench looked dangerous: Declan Rice came on for the final 20 minutes and looked like a different player — composed, intelligent, relentless.

What’s Next?

Arsenal now face a quarterfinal draw scheduled for the week of the Carabao Cup quarterfinals . Potential opponents include Manchester United, Newcastle United, or Aston Villa — all teams with recent cup pedigree. But Arsenal are playing with a confidence rarely seen since the Invincibles era. Their defense is the bedrock. Their midfield is the heartbeat. And their attack? It’s just waiting to explode.

For Brighton? The focus shifts back to the Premier League. They sit 10th, five points off the top six. Hürzeler’s long-term project remains intact, but the cup window — for now — is shut. The dream of a first major trophy since 1910? Still alive. But it’s getting harder to reach.

Behind the Scenes: The Unseen Work

What fans don’t see is the data-driven preparation behind these results. Arsenal’s analytics team has spent months mapping opponent pressing triggers. They’ve trained players to recognize when to drop, when to press, and when to hold. The result? Opponents rarely get clean shots. In the last five games, opponents have averaged just 3.1 shots on target per match — the lowest in Europe’s top five leagues.

Meanwhile, Brighton’s squad has been reshaped by Hürzeler’s youth-focused philosophy. The average age of their starting XI this season is 24.7 — the youngest in the Premier League. But youth needs experience. And on Wednesday, the gap showed.