Player Ratings: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton as Hale End graduates shine 

Arsenal reach the quarter-finals of the League Cup after easing past Brighton with goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka.

Find out who impressed with View From The Armchair's unique Player Ratings 

Kepa: 8/10 - In goal we have Kepa, just Kepa, that will do, minute in and he’s using his hands already, outrageous, not used to seeing this, bit shaky with his plates of meat on the ground, will take the clean sheet regardless. Job well done.

Ben White: 7/10 - a chance to start against his old club tonight, workmanlike performance that results in him doing his bit as he is replaced on 70 minutes in a triple substitution

Mosquera: 7.5/10 - if Saliba is the Rolls Royce of our team, this guy could be our Bentley in reserve, quietly efficient and determined to ensure we didn't give anything away against the Seagulls

Piero Hincapie: 7/10 - my first chance to cast my gaze over our Ecuadorian defender tonight starting at centre back. Solid and performed an important block on 68 minutes in his last contribution in the game before being replaced by Gabriel.

Myles Lewis Skelly: 7.5/10 - not gonna lie, bit of a shaky first half as Brighton have the better of the spoils going forwards, but delivered the assist for Nwaneri’s opener in the second half to give a much improved performance after the break.

Ethan Nwaneri: 8/10 - slotted home the opener when shooting past Brighton keeper Jason Steele on 57 minutes with some fluidly beautiful movement of the ball. Will be happy to get on the scoresheet and gobble up 90 minutes on the field.

Christian Norgaard: 7.5/10 - a chance to show his leadership skills tonight, let’s get this man a medal this season for the loyalty he has shown giving up first team football at the Bees.

Mikel Merino: 8/10 - we need to talk about Mikel. In particular about his back heel in the build up in the game's first goal. Outrageous. Majestic stuff finished off by Nwaneri, but bar that was mostly anonymous and invisible otherwise. But that thinking about that backheel will keep me warm tonight 

Max Dowman: 8.5/10 - excited to see him do his stuff, youngest debutant in the club's history. A cracking night's work as he is replaced on 70 minutes by Saka, this lad could well be a generational talent barring injuries, I’m gonna give him my MOTM tonight.

Andre Harriman-Annous: 7/10 - my first chance to have a look at this youngster, don’t give me a hard time I’m watching from the armchair yer, should have dinked the keeper and he would have had his first goal instead of Saka, replaced by super half price Dec on 77 minutes as the Gunners stretch their lead to 2-0. Can be proud of his night's work

Eberechie Eze: 8/10 - will his feathers be ruffled being thrown in with the second string? Linked well with Nwaneri all night, grew into the game as it went on, another step towards finding his rip snorting best form for the Arsenal, I’m never gonna complain watching him with a ball at his feet for us and thats the truth.

Substitutes:

Bukayo Saka: 8/10 - Starboy looking like he didn’t take the news he was being replaced by Dowman tonight too well, instantly foubnd his groove to causes chaos down the right flank before 75 minutes - boom it’s 2-0.

Gabriel: 7.5/10 - clean sheet, shut up shop, onto the next one, we just look tighter when he’s on the pitch, it’s how we roll this season COYG!

Jurrien Timber: 7.5/10 - bought on to seal the deal, keep the clean sheet, and see us through to the next round, tightened things up when he came on. Deserves extra kudos for his rampaging run to help set up the second goal 

Declan Rice: 7/10 - brought onto the pitch on 77 minutes at 2-0 to the good, with the crowd in good voice, love to see it.

Leandro Trossard: 7.5/10 - bought on for Eze with seven minutes remaining. Impish, jinking left and right as our silver haired winger nearly put his old club to the sword at the close of play - very unlucky not to score when crashing one against the post from far out.

Arsenal crowd watch: Seemed to be in good voice tonight and thankfully not waiting for the players to deliver before they find their voices, it’s what we need in the ground, especially in view of the fact that Brighton have done their bit and arrived in good numbers in the away end.

Right, that’s a wrap from me in the armchair, Arsenal comfortable winners tonight, amazingly another clean sheet despite fielding our second string, the good signs continue as we avoid a banana skin tonight.

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