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Arsenal player ratings vs Brighton: Saka shines with four 8/10s in game of two halves
ARSENAL 2-0 BRIGHTON: The north Londoners ensured their progression in the Carabao Cup.
Bukayo Saka was among the scorers as Arsenal progressed in the Carabao Cup
Arsenal prevailed in a game of two halves as they booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with victory over Brighton and Hove Albion. Goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka ensured the much-changed Gunners made it through to the last eight. Brighton wasted several early chances to open the scoring with Kepa Arrizabalaga making some big saves to keep it level.
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The hosts were firmly on the back foot until the interval, having failed to muster a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. Brighton continued to push for an opener before Nwaneri found the bottom corner with a sweetly-struck effort just before the hour mark. At that point, the tide turned and it wasn’t long before Saka tucked into the far corner to double Arsenal’s lead and make sure of the victory.
Arsenal player ratings vs Brighton
Kepa Arrizabalaga – 8
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Faced a bombardment in the first half but was equal to everything thrown at him. A strong display between the sticks.
Ben White – 8
Had a good game, racing up and down the right flank and using his range of passing to start attacking moves.
Piero Hincapie – 7
Looked a bit awkward dealing with high balls at times, but otherwise did his defensive duties well enough.
Cristhian Mosquera – 8
Brought a sense of calm at the back and stayed strong under pressure with some goal-saving tackles. Solid.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6
Struggled to deal with the threat posed by Ferdi Kadioglu but managed to get the assist for Nwaneri’s goal.
Mikel Merino – 6
Started slowly but improved in the second half. Could have offered a greater degree of solidity in the engine room.
Max Dowman became the youngest player to start a competitive game for Arsenal
Christian Norgaard – 5
Looked a bit lost as Brighton repeatedly broke through the middle in the first half. Not his best display.
Ethan Nwaneri – 7
The game was passing him by until he found the bottom corner with a pinpoint finish to open the scoring.
Eberechi Eze – 7
Worked hard to make things happen as Arsenal’s only non-teenage forward. Carved out plenty of chances from wide positions.
Max Dowman – 7
Embraced the occasion and showed confidence every time he was on the ball. Posed a threat with his clever attacking movement.
Andre Harriman-Annous – 6
Was mostly kept quiet by Brighton’s defenders but had an involvement in the build-up to the second goal.
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Substitutes
Gabriel Magalhaes – 7
Posed an immediate threat from set-pieces after his introduction.
Jurrien Timber – 7
Had a huge hand in creating the second goal with a driving run and a fine pass into the box.
Bukayo Saka – 8
Put the result beyond doubt with a composed finish into the far corner.
Declan Rice – 6
Kept things ticking in the middle of the park in the closing stages.
Leandro Trossard – n/a
A late addition against his former club. Hit the post in stoppage time.
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Arsenal injury, suspension list and return dates vs. Portsmouth: Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera latest
Arsenal will begin their bid to win the FA Cup for the 15th time in their history when they travel to Fratton Park for Sunday’s meeting with Championship strugglers Portsmouth.
The Gunners missed the chance to further extend their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in Thursday’s underwhelming goalless draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
While their five-game winning league run came to an end, Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the fact that his side are now unbeaten in seven competitive matches ahead of Sunday’s cup tie and Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Arsenal’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with Portsmouth, who are languishing in 21st spot in the Championship standings.
Piero Hincapie
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Hincapie was forced off with what appeared to be a muscle problem in the 57th minute of Thursday’s draw with Liverpool. Arteta now faces a nervous wait to discover the full extent of the defender’s injury.
Kai Havertz
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Match fitness
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Havertz has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of action for months. However, he has been left out of Arsenal’s last two matchday squads as he continues to build up his fitness. There is a possibility that the forward could make his first appearance since August in Sunday’s FA Cup clash.
Riccardo Calafiori
Status: Out
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Calafiori has sat out Arsenal’s last four matches with a muscle injury. The defender is making progress in his recovery, but he is not expected to be ready for the upcoming trip to the south coast.
Cristhian Mosquera
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Like Calafiori, Mosquera is closing in on a return to action after missing over a month of action due to an ankle injury. However, the former Valencia defender will not be available for selection this weekend.
Max Dowman
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: Unknown
Max Dowman is likely to be out until February after sustaining an ankle problem while playing for Arsenal Under-21s in last month’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United.
ARSENAL’S SUSPENSION LIST
Arsenal have no players suspended for the third-round tie.
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Arsenal transfer ins and outs as Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta get to work in the January window
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal remain in the driving seat to clinch the Premier League title crown this season – and they could strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad to bolster their chances.
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Whether or not the right players are out there remains to be seen, but with Arteta enduring several injury blows already this season – particularly in defence – the manager will be keeping a close eye on potential targets.
The Gunners splashed the cash in the summer, bringing in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera to the Emirates Stadium – so a loan deal might favour the club
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There could also be high-profile exits, both loans and permanent deals, with young midfield talent Ethan Nwaneri linked with an exit. Other youngsters could also make loan moves to get a taste of first-team football.
With that said, football.london takes a closer look at all the moves completed by Arsenal so far this January.
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News Liverpool’s injury list, suspensions and availability
Read the latest information on injuries, suspensions and availability in the Liverpool men’s squad.
Injuries
Hugo Ekitike
Ekitike was unavailable for the clash with Fulham because of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). Arne Slot was asked whether he will be fit for the game at Arsenal on January 8.
Slot on January 7: “He has not trained with us until now and let’s see if he can today.
“I’ve said, I think, two or three days ago when we played Fulham that he is not going to be out for long but because games come so fast he is in between maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra.”
Wataru Endo
The midfielder has been out of action with an ankle injury since appearing in the 3-3 draw at Leeds United on December 6.
Alexander Isak
Isak is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture on December 22.
He sustained the issue while scoring against Tottenham Hotspur two days prior.
Slot on December 23: “It’s going to be a long injury. For a couple of months. That’s a big, big, big disappointment for him and as a result of that of course also for us.”
Slot did also confirm he is confident Isak will be able to play again during the 2025-26 season.
Giovanni Leoni
The defender is amid a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the end of his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
Slot on September 26: “He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side.
“There’s never a positive side – but you always try to look at a positive side and that is that he is still so young, so he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”
Availability
Mohamed Salah
After featuring off the bench versus Brighton on December 13, the forward is now with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah scored in the group games against Zimbabwe and South Africa to help his country reach the last 16. They are next in action on January 5.
Suspensions
Conor Bradley
Bradley is one yellow card away from receiving a one-match suspension in the Champions League.
The Reds travel to Marseille on January 21 for matchday seven of the league phase and then host Qarabag a week later.
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