Arsenal v Brighton live: Carabao Cup latest as Mikel Arteta hands Max Dowman first start

Fabian Hurzeler believes that the nature of a cup competition could play in Brighton’s favour this evening.

“Cup competitions are always a big motivation because it gives you a chance to win a title,” Hurzeler explained ahead of the fourth-round clash. “Arsenal is the favourite, but the cup games are always 50-50. You always have a chance.

“We had two draws against them last season so of course that gives you confidence, but it doesn’t mean you get to the next round. They are the best team in the league, but we have to believe that we are capable of beating them. If it goes to a penalty shoot-out we are ready. We practice penalties every day.”

Earlier in October, Miguel Delaney, our Chief Football Writer, tried his best to parse the new tactical phase of football and the trends that could come to define the next few years.

There’s been a slightly old-school feel to English football this season, a few tactics of yesteryear back en vogue – Tony Pulis feels vindicated at the vanguard:

Teenager Max Dowman becomes Arsenal’s youngest ever starter tonight. The midfielder is a player who appears to have a very bright future – as Mikel Arteta outlined yesterday:

Brighton XI: Steele; Boscagli, Coppola, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; Baleba, Gomez; Rutter, De Cuyper; Tzimas, Kostoulas.

Young Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous are given starts in a heavily-changed Arsenal side.

Arsenal XI: Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino; Nwaneri, Dowman, Eze; Harriman-Annous.

Righty ho – we should have team news sharpish from the Emirates, with Arsenal confirmed to be without a couple of key figures and perhaps rotating out a few more…

League One Cardiff are the eye-catching side already in the hat for tonight’s draw after beating Wrexham in an all-Welsh tie last night – can Swansea join their rivals in the last eight? It’s a tall task against Manchester City for the Swans this evening.

4. Arsenal or Brighton & Hove Albion

5. Liverpool or Crystal Palace

6. Newcastle United or Tottenham Hotspur

7. Swansea City or Manchester City

8. Wolverhampton Wanderers or Chelsea

The Carabao Cup quarter-final draw will follow tonight’s proceedings. Here’s everything you need to know:

To the visitors, then, and Brighton’s very aesthetically pleasing record of three wins, three draws, and three defeats from nine Premier League games so far – although Fabian Hurzeler’s side were the latest to feel the force of a revived Manchester United at the weekend.