Mikel Arteta faced the media after Arsenal’s strong win over Brighton in the League Cup fourth round.
Arsenal broke the deadlock courtesy of a great Ethan Nwaneri finish after being found by Myles Lewis-Skelly as Hale End combined. But the goal was all about Mikel Merino’s backheel pass, which bamboozled the whole Brighton defence.
Substitute Bukayo Saka would win the game, finishing a rebounded effort after Andre Harriman-Annous had seen a dream one-on-one scenario cruelly stopped by Jason Steele.
You can hear everything Arteta had to say on all that and much more with **football.london's** Arsenal reporter **Tom Canton** in our live blog below.
22:17Tom Canton
Really good and he came on today and when he has those chances he has to make the most of it.
22:16Tom Canton
He was really good today. The way he plays, trains, the way he connects with the team.
22:16Tom Canton
It's going to make us stronger. I really believe in them, we could adjust a few things and be better.
Improve certain individuals with certain positions.
22:14Tom Canton
Yeah, he does, and the more senior ones as well. They believe they're going to have a pathway.
They believe in that, and they really want it.
22:14Tom Canton
You ask him, for sure. That's what we have to manage. A lot of things are new in his life. Make sure he makes the right step and then he plays in a different team.
22:13Tom Canton
For him, it's the way he plays; he doesn't make a fuss of it.
22:12Tom Canton
No, it's not. I am very happy with them. Two academy graduates taking us to the quarter-finals.
22:12Tom Canton
First of all how much he wants it. Giving us the option to pick him, today I felt it was the right context.
22:11Tom Canton
A very special evening for obvious reasons. We made ten changes, we played players that have never played together.
Two debuts for Max and Andrea. That feeling is unique.
22:11Tom Canton
22:06Tom Canton
He is a similar profile to Saka. We didn't know who was going to start.
22:02Tom Canton
Of course, every goal gives you confidence. We had like, a good possibility to score.
It gives the players confidence but we weren't able to do it.
22:01Tom Canton
I think if we take our chances we win the game.
We weren't able to score in the most important actions. Defending and giving goals we can do better.
22:01Tom Canton
We will hear from the Brighton boss first.
21:57Tom Canton
The teams left in the competition are: Crystal Palace, Fulham, Cardiff, Brentford, Chelsea, Man City and Newcastle United.
21:53Tom Canton
Kepa Arrizabalaga kept the scores level in the opening exchanges of the clash, facing perhaps more threat inside 20 minutes than David Raya has in his last three league matches.
Max Dowman was putting on a great show from the right, and looked to win a penalty after the break but did appear to go down too easily and early. It was his Hale End teammate Ethan Nwaneri who scored after being assisted by Myles Lewis-Skelly following a gorgeous Mikel Merino piece of skill.
Bukayo Saka would win the game, finishing off a rebounded effort from the 17-year-old debutant Andre Harriman-Annous, which was cruelly saved.
Read how the team fared [here](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/fixtures-results/arsenal-player-ratings-vs-brighton-32776624).
Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri perform brilliantly for Arsenal against Brighton (Image: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Tom Canton
Welcome to **football.london's** coverage of Mikel Arteta's post-match press conference following the clash with Brighton.
The Arsenal manager will discuss the game with the press, including our Arsenal reporter, **Tom Canton**. Updates will follow.