Mikel Arteta hailed Max Dowman's "special" performance, after the 15-year-old prodigy became Arsenal's youngest-ever starter in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Brighton in the League Cup fourth round.

Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka scored in the second half at the Emirates Stadium as the Premier League leader earned itself a home quarterfinal against Crystal Palace.

But it was Dowman, still two months shy of his 16th birthday, who stole the show with a dazzling display that ended with a standing ovation after being substituted in the second half.

Gunners boss Arteta was delighted with Dowman's composed performance, which he said belied his tender years, even if his shy response to being picked was more in keeping with someone still of school age.

"A tiny smile, that's what you get with him," said Arteta when asked how Dowman reacted when he told the teenager he was starting.

"For him, everything is natural, for him everything is OK. It's the way he plays and that's the secret, that he doesn't make a big fuss of it.

"He just does what he does best, which is to play football.

"And to play football with a lot of courage and determination. Today, again, he has shown some incredible skill, some capacity to run past players at that level in the Premier League at just 15 years old. It's definitely something special."

The highly-rated teenager previously came off the bench in league games against Leeds and Liverpool and the last round of the League Cup at Port Vale.

Having got a taste for starting, Arteta expects Dowman to be pushing for more regular action.

"For sure, if you ask him. That's what we have to manage. And, not only that, there are a lot of things that are new in his life," he said.

"We have to make sure that he takes the right steps, and he needs to be able to cope with it, too, because it's happening very, very fast, and we all need to be aware of that.

"Let's encourage him to keep going that way, but let's protect him as well."

Arsenal will host Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarterfinals, while third-tier Cardiff City, the only non-Premier League team to make the last eight, will host Chelsea.

Holder Newcastle United is at home to Fulham and Manchester City, which has hoisted the League Cup eight times, hosts Brentford.

Brentford, Fulham, Cardiff City and Crystal Palace have never won the League Cup.

All four quarterfinals will be played on Dec 17.

AFP