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.

Here is how football.london rated the performances of the Arsenal players:

Kepa Arrizabaga – Brilliant one on one save inside the opening ten minutes from Georginio Rutter to prevent an early Brighton goal.

Ben White – His main asset appeared to be the distribution in the first-half which he used to spread the play and find Dowman. A solid return to the...