Arsenal

Alex Howell
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Max Dowman is used to breaking records whenever he plays for Arsenal.

Alongside being the youngest player to start an FA Cup game, Dowman is the youngest player to ever start a match for Arsenal after starting in their win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup, and is the youngest ever player to feature in the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta has previously hinted at comparisons between Dowman's ability and one of the world's best ever players Lionel Messi, and the youngster continues to impress whenever he is in the side.

The England youth international has committed his future to the Gunners and signed a pre-contract agreement with the club in January.

Arteta regularly praises Dowman's mentality, who looked up to the pace of the game despite it being his first appearance for the senior side since November against Slavia Prague.

The midfielder had a couple of chances to score and his reaction when he missed showed he sets high standards for himself.

"Max Dowman is a delight to watch," Stephen Warnock said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The way he carries the ball and he glides past players. Often he offloads it at the right time. His vision and understanding of the game is phenomenal for someone so young."

Dowman was one of the first players to console Salmon after his pass allowed Mansfield back into the match, and he nearly bailed out his fellow teenager with an excellent individual effort late in the game before Eze's winner.

"The game is different physically, it is so different from youth football," Warnock added. "He knows how to find space and he is constantly looking over his shoulder.

"His decision-making for such a young player - he is incredible."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports after their 2-1 win over Mansfield Town: "It was a proper FA Cup game and credit to Mansfield. The stadium and the atmosphere the fans created there was a bit of banter.

"They made it really difficult for us. If not, you have to be more ruthless in front of goal than we were today.

"The margin becomes smaller, and you give hope to the opposition. We made a mistake on the goal which cost us the momentum and belief for them. Overall, happy with the performance.

"We have two 16-year-olds in the starting line-up, which I don't think has ever happened, and I am very proud of them.

"I think everyone feels involved. We have the desire that, game by game, we can get closer to the things that we can achieve."

Arsenal's Eberechi Eze speaking to TNT Sports: "I'm happy to score. I had the space and the opportunity to shoot. So I took it.

"It was a difficult environment to play in. But we did what we had to do and we are through to next round which is the important thing.

"We are working hard and we are focussing on the process. Otherwise, we won't get there. We are working hard and doing everything we can to win all the silverware on offer."

Did you know?

• Arsenal have won 35 games in all competitions this season (D8 L3), more than any other big five European league side in 2025-26 and their outright most wins in a single season under Mikel Arteta (previously 34 in 2023-24).

Alex Howell
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta made nine changes to his side that beat Brighton in midweek and Arsenal started this game with an unfamiliar three-man defence.

Arsenal, who are usually so dependable at the back, looked shaky at times as a result of that change and the Gunners boss reverted back to a familiar back four after an injury to Leandro Trossard.

Arteta put a lot of trust in both Max Dowman and Marli Salmon to start a game in a cup competition, and Arsenal became the first Premier League side ever to start with two players aged 16 or under in any competition.

Salmon was tasked with moving into midfield with the ball from defence and to be given such a role in his first start just shows how highly-rated he is by the coaches.

Dowman was arguably Arsenal's best player in the first half and, despite his age, showed the confidence of a seasoned professional to pick up the ball in dangerous areas while always looking to start attacks.

The youngster has been out since December with an ankle injury but produced moments of brilliance to show why he has been training with the first team squad since he was 14.

Salmon was disappointed to come off after his pass gave Mansfield a route back into the match, but the youngster will have learned a lot from playing in a cup match with such a passionate home support.

Arteta was able to rest key players Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Zubimendi, with crucial games in the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup final to come.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Arsenal's performance?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Nigel Clough's side are attempting to pull off a huge upset today.

Mansfield are struggling in League One and their last win in the league came against Port Vale in January.

They are just five points clear of the relegation zone but their FA Cup run has given their supporters some great moments.

Mansfield Town XI: Roberts, Knoyle, Oshilaja, Blake-Tracy, Akins, Abbott, Reed, McLaughlin, Russell, T.Roberts, Oates

Subs: H.Lewis, Hewitt, Bowery, A.Lewis, Hendry, Moriah-Welsh, Irow, Evans, Adeboyejo

Mikel Arteta has made nine changes to the side that beat Brighton in the Premier League in midweek.

There are starts for 16-year-old's Marli Salmon, who is making his first start, and Max Dowman who is returning from injury.

It's not clear how the Gunners are going to line-up with just three recognised defenders in the starting line-up.

Arsenal XI: Kepa, Salmon, Mosquera, Calafiori, Trossard, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Martinelli, Dowman, Jesus.

Subs: Setford, Hincapie, Saka, Eze, Timber, Gyokeres, Dixon, Harriman-Annous, Ibrahim.

There are three fifth-round ties in the FA Cup on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Mansfield Town v Arsenal (12:15) - BBC Radio Nottingham

• Wrexham v Chelsea (17:30) - BBC iPlayer and BBC Radio 5 Live

• Newcastle v Manchester City (20:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Newcastle & BBC Radio Manchester

Kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Wrexham v Chelsea" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Man City".

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

How to follow the FA Cup fifth round on the BBC

This will be Mansfield against Arsenal's second team, which is still very strong.

The Stags beat Premier League Burnley at Turf Moor thanks to Louis Reed's stunning free-kick but, even at home and with the Gunners making changes, this is a much tougher proposition.

Mansfield have not won any of their past nine games in League One - they have drawn six of them, and lost the other three - and are only five points above the relegation zone.

They can forget about all that while they focus on this tie, and their fans can just enjoy the day too, but I can only see an Arsenal win here, whatever team they put out.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Francis Jeffers has recalled how he took the call telling him his move to from Everton to Arsenal was on while in Magaluf and reflected on his time at the club between 2001 and 2004.

Speaking to former team-mate and childhood friend Wayne Rooney on The Wayne Rooney show, Jeffers recalled : "I was actually in BCM nightclub in Magaluf. Honestly, that's where I got the call to say, 'this deal's happening at Arsenal, you better get home'.

"It had been muted, and it was tough because I'm a massive Evertonian.

"I go and meet David Dein and Arsene Wenger and the deal's quickly done. And I'm an Arsenal player.

"It was tough. I remember being in the car with my mum and dad leaving Highbury and had real happiness, but also a lot of sadness. That Everton badge that meant so much to me.

"I went down there on my own, which was tough. But there's no excuses - the bottom line is I wasn't good enough to get in the team.

"There's no shame in saying that. It was mostly Thierry [Henry] and Dennis [Bergkamp] that played, then [Nwankwo] Kanu, [Sylvain] Wiltord and myself.

"I got down there and sat on the bench. In the first season we won the Double, so I think I was proved right in saying I wanted to go and join the best team. They were by far the best team that season.

"I was number nine at Arsenal, an iconic number. Dennis Bergkamp was number 10, so I had three years of sitting next to Dennis Bergkamp in the changing room, talking football, talking life.

"I never got a medal and that was another disappointment. I think now you need five appearances - back then, you needed 10. So that killed me.

"If you play a game in the Premier League, you've contributed, haven't you?"

Hit play below to hear the full episode of The Wayne Rooney Show or listen on BBC Sounds here

Arsenal will need to sell a first-team player this summer, with midfielder Martin Odegaard and winger Gabriel Martinelli among the potential candidates. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Defender Piero Hincapie will join the Gunners on a permanent transfer from Bayer Leverkusen at the end of this season. (Sun), external

Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are set to battle to sign England Under-19 centre-back Samuel Amissah, 18, from Fulham. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Scarlet Katz Roberts
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

"No-one likes us, no-one likes us, no-one likes us, we don't care!"

Is this what it feels like to be a Millwall fan? The past few weeks have seen a succession of comments from a who's who of the mid-2000s Premier League.

Everyone's at it. From Paul Scholes to Alan Pardew, Stan Collymore to Yaya Toure, suggesting (take your pick from): "Arsenal will be undeserving champions", or "Arsenal are bottlejobs".

Until about 22:05 on Wednesday, a Mikel Arteta-shaped bottle opener gif was trending in WhatsApp groups across the country.

Arsenal are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Late Wenger-era teams were castigated for being too soft.

Praised for their nice football, but ultimately lacking in the muck and bullets of April and May. In other words, we were non-threatening.

Arteta, being the humble student of the game he is, knows that's not enough to win a title in 2026.

When we lose a duel, I am upset. Arsenal - physically dominant and defensively solid? Unacceptable.

Safe to say the past two games haven't been vintage displays, but it hasn't been vintage anyone.

Rodri celebrated his goal from a corner with the enthusiasm of someone thinking we've done it again, only for Manchester City to be pegged back to 2-2 by Nottingham Forest.

This isn't the Premier League we knew. This is the Wild West. The middle class is hungrier and more empowered than ever. I never want to play Brentford again.

In Fabian Hurzeler's case, perhaps he thought if he could pile scrutiny on Arsenal's game management, then he could exert the same kind of pressure as the Gunners' corners do. It didn't work.

In the end, Hurzeler was more Rotten Robbie from LazyTown than Premier League manager, a cartoon villain whining in the ear of the fourth official.

1-0 to the Arsenal. People forget it's in our DNA.

Find more from Scarlet Katz Roberts at the Goal Difference podcast, external

Brighton defender Olivier Boscagli feels it was a "really cruel" way for them to lose against Arsenal with the Gunners' "frustrating tactics" in the 1-0 defeat.

The Premier League leaders have come in for criticism in recent weeks for their approach in games, with onlookers believing they are employing gamesmanship tactics and being over-reliant on set-piece goals.

Tempers flared in the match at the Amex on Wednesday night and boss Fabian Hurzeler said after the match: "I think there was only one team who tried to play football today."

According to Opta, Arsenal took 30 minutes and 51 seconds to restart play against Brighton, their highest total in a Premier League match this season.

"Really cruel for us. Difficult to accept this," Boscagli told BBC Radio Sussex. "But a lot of things we can take away that we can be proud of from what we did on the pitch. This kind of team, they are good in every phase of the game, not for nothing they are first.

"It was smart from them [the way they played], but I think it was a bit too much in my opinion, but it needs to be with the referees. We can't do anything, they need to take care of net play time.

"It can be frustrating sometimes, because you know this decision goes more in their way [in this match]. But we also had occasions to score goals and we can't hide behind this.

"But, of course, it is part of the game and difficult because it is difficult to speak with them [officials], everywhere the same. We can't blame this as we had enough time to score goals, but we can also learn from this. We can learn from this team also because even when they don't play well they still win.

"There is also something to do on this from the league because it was quite big tonight, but we can't change anything."

Listen to full interview by clicking play above or on BBC Sounds

In defence of Arsenal - is criticism of Premier League leaders unfair?

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Brighton and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Home team fans

Nigel: The reason Brighton lost is not Arsenals fault for the way they played, it's Brightons fault for not scoring when they had the chance! Fabian is moaning and blaming Arsenal but your players didn't score! Simple!

Chris: Toothless up front again. A familiar theme this season. Uncle Tony needs to crunch the data and sign us a goalscorer or two this summer ... please.

Fran: Played recently well tonight. Arsenal's defence kept them in the game. We dominated and they created very little, The referee and linesman were absolutely awful. Didn't seem to know what was going on around them.Completely ruined the whole game.

Graham: Brighton play some excellent football but play a team of mainly midfielders who are extremely limited in goalscoring which costs them valuable points. They need to splash out the cash for a top class striker such as Ivan Toni. They might then qualify for the Champions league.

Sam: Decent performance until the final third. Too many players not sharp enough - Mitoma needs to work on his finishing, no idea what has happened to Georginio and we do look blunt. Arsenal and the referee though, my god. Time wasting, diving, rolling on the floor and the referee allowed this to happen. Disgusting to be brutally honest. I can't believe that Arsenal, with their tactics, are going to win the league. Never left a game as angry.

Away team fans

Vince: Good result, poor performance. What ever happened to all that attractive passing football from Arteta's earlier days at the managerial helm? We bought Gyokeres to give us the Plan B option of no-nonsense, route one football but now that seems more the norm than the exception. That said, like most fans, I'll gladly accept it if we win the title. Which I suppose is why Arteta has turned this into Plan A.

Steve: It looked like we were using this game as a training session for our defense. Disappointing but 3 points works for me.

Mark: Pivotal night possibly in race for prem. With trip to Germany hope Arteta leaves almost all starting 11 at home for fa cup tie. No need for them to travel regardless of result and one of few times left in season we can take that liberty. A few days at home to recharge is massive as we look mentally tired in so many of recent games.

Gabriel: Heart was in my throat. Credit to Brighton for how they played, but we need more attacking intent. I saw nothing special in attack, and if we want to win this league, we need more from the boys up top. End of the day, 7 points clear, let's stay humble Gunners

Matthew: Arsenal showed character tonight against Brighton. Away games like this are never easy, especially against a team that plays good football and presses well. The important thing is that Arsenal managed the game well and stayed disciplined. These are the kinds of matches that win you titles — grinding out results even when it's not perfect. If Arsenal are going the league , performances like this are exactly what the team need.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Arsenal "won't care" about their performance level in Wednesday's 1-0 win at Brighton because they are "answering questions".

The Seagulls recorded more possession, more shots, more shots on target, and a higher xG (expected goals) than Mikel Arteta's side, but an early Bukayo Saka goal was enough to earn a scrappy yet vital victory.

"We're at the point of the season where it's three points regardless of how you get them," Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"There's no pictures on the Premier League table at the end of the season and Arsenal are in a position now where it's about getting over the line. You talk about style or attractive football - managers are realising that if you score an ugly goal it counts the same as if you put 50 passes together first.

"If Arsenal win the title they will have to suffer at times. They are a team that is comfortable without the ball.

"We've seen this season, and again against Brighton, them not being at their best and that leading to not a pretty game. But they won't care travelling back to London."

Manchester City's home draw against Nottingham Forest means the Gunners now hold a seven-point lead having played a game more than their title rivals.

"Both of them are competing in four competitions so there will still be twists and turns, but from an Arsenal point of view there are always questions as they haven't got it over the line and done it for so long," Robinson added.

"That finger will always be pointed and that question asked until they do it.

"But, the questions they are being asked they are answering. Manchester City are stumbling at times."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are weighing up a move for 24-year-old Juventus and France midfielder Khephren Thuram. (CaughtOffside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pundits Micah Richards and Danny Murphy join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from the midweek Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal's performance was desperately average throughout, hanging on in a scrap and barely creating a chance - and yet the result was greeted like a title win itself.

Saka's fortunate early strike, aided and abetted by the hapless Bart Verbruggen, was a rare moment of danger for Brighton, who set the tempo throughout.

And yet, as Brighton's efforts became more laboured, Arsenal survived the storm to celebrate at the final whistle, the noise from the travelling supporters coming to a crescendo when news of Forest getting a draw at Etihad Stadium filtered through.

Arsenal were in retreat for most of the game, their cause not helped by a lack of creation and ability to maintain possession or hold the ball up front, with Viktor Gyokeres anonymous before being substituted.

At the heart of it all was defender Gabriel, magnificent with his usual partner William Saliba out injured, almost mounting a one-man barrier of defiance as Brighton pushed.

The celebrations at the final whistle on and off the pitch reflected the importance of the win as Arsenal fans chanted "We're going to win the league".

And it is results like this, on nights like this, when titles are sometimes won.

Mikel Arteta spoke toTNT Sports after Arsenal's victory against Brighton: "This was a really difficult one after everything we've been through in the last few weeks.

"Every game in the Premier League offers you different things. Big credit to the boys because the effort they put in is astronomical.

On Saka's 300th game: "I didn't know it was that many, but at his age, it is incredible the consistency he shows and it is a pleasure to have him.

"We are missing quite a lot of players in the backline. The commitment of every player is unbelievable and that is why we do what we do.

On seven-point gap: "We did what we had to do and that is what we will continue to do."

Gabriel spoke to TNT Sports: ""I think we know what the game is we want to play. It is very tough to come here and play well. The more important thing is coming here, getting the clean sheet and the three points.

On his headed clearance: "When I saw the player was free, I didn't have time to step up to him but I covered David and head clear.

On Saka: "We are very happy for him. He is a top guy. Today is 300 games? He is still young.

"At the end, they put every player in the front and we did well. We are so happy to keep the clean sheet and get the three points."

Did you know?

Arsenal have kept 14 clean sheets in 30 Premier League games this season; their most at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 2005-06 (14).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brighton's performance

What did you make of Arsenal's display?

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

Brighton have left experienced pair James Milner and Danny Welbeck on the bench as Fabian Hurzeler makes three changes from the side that beat Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

Carlos Baleba comes in for Milner in midfield, while Georginio Rutter plays up front instead of Welbeck. Olivier Boscagli replaced Lewis Dunk in defence, with the latter nursing a knee injury.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Van Hecke, Rutter, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Boscagli, Mitoma, Kadioglu, Gomez, Wieffer, Gross.

Subs: Steele, Minteh, Welbeck, Milner, Ayari, De Cuyper, O'Riley, Veltman, Howell

Arsenal will be without key defender William Saliba, who has an ankle knock, with Christhian Mosquera coming in. There is a change in attack as Gabriel Martinelli replaces Leandro Trossard.Declan Rice picked up a knock in the win against Arsenal on Sunday, but he is fit to start.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Subs: Kepa, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Havertz, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman

There are five games in the Premier League on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Chelsea - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Brighton v Arsenal - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v West Ham

• Manchester City v Nottingham Forest -BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Newcastle v Manchester United (20:15) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Brighton v Arsenal" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Man Utd", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

For Manchester City and boss Pep Guardiola, ending strongly to win a title is nothing new. Two seasons ago they went unbeaten through their last 23 league matches, winning 19 of them, to finish two points clear of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

City are also used to piling on the pressure before their title rivals play.

On the past 15 times when City have played a day before Arsenal, Guardiola's side have won 11 of them, with three draws and just one loss - a 2-1 defeat by Newcastle in November.

Former Gunners defender Martin Keown, a three-time Premier League winner, thinks how Arsenal, runners-up in each of the past three seasons, cope with the pressure will define their campaign.

"It's normal when you want something so much, sometimes it can get the better of you," said Keown. "But there's plenty of time to learn from it.

"They've not been in this situation where they've been in front too often. It's almost about doing a reset here, which they've talked about in the past. If we were starting the season afresh, you'd just go after your opponent and just finish the job off.

"You also have to trust your team-mates in the moment. You need to try to create a steely, calm determination."

Steve Bruce, who won three Premier League titles with Manchester United in the 1990s, said: "Arsenal have shown remarkable consistency so far.

"Every game, no matter where you play and who you play, it becomes difficult, especially if you're in a title race and especially if you're Arsenal, because they haven't won it in so long.

"What you want at this time is the big players to perform. I was fortunate enough to play in a team where a certain Frenchman came to the fore - we always thought 'Eric [Cantona] will get us out of trouble'."

Joe Hart, a two-time Premier League winner with Manchester City, added: "There will be a lot of questions, a lot of noise on Arsenal - that is life at the top. There is no point in worrying, you have to live in your own world.

"They know what is coming in their rear-view mirror. Arsenal have been in this situation before though, they know what they need to do."

Read more here