Eze Strikes Gold! New Arsenal Star Scores Debut Goal as Gunners Cruise Past Port Vale 2-0
Arsenal advanced to the Carabao Cup fourth round after a straightforward—though largely unremarkable—2-0 victory over Port Vale on Wednesday evening.
The League One club from Stoke-on-Trent were hoping to spring a surprise in front of over 16,000 supporters at Vale Park, with the football community still buzzing after Grimsby Town's shock elimination of Manchester United in the previous round of this tournament.
However, Eberechi Eze's maiden Arsenal strike since his transfer from Crystal Palace gave the Premier League outfit an early advantage they never appeared likely to surrender. Leandro Trossard eventually extended the margin late in the contest.
Mikel Arteta chose to rest Declan Rice, Martín Zubimendi, Viktor Gyökeres and David Raya from the starting eleven, yet it remained a formidable lineup, led by captain Bukayo Saka—making his first start since sustaining a hamstring problem against Leeds United over a month ago.
Arsenal predictably controlled possession and Eze's eighth-minute breakthrough represented the evening's initial effort. It came from excellent team play that saw the ball reach Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank. His delivery into the penalty area was delicately flicked on by Myles Lewis-Skelly before Eze converted at the first attempt.
Additional opportunities were scarce afterward, however. The subsequent shot on target, again from Eze, didn't arrive until the 36th minute, while Port Vale even managed a couple of rapid-fire blocked attempts just before the interval.
Mikel Merino, deployed once more in the false nine position, briefly appeared destined for a one-on-one opportunity after the break, only to be beaten to the ball by the advancing Joe Gauci. There was also a concerning moment for the away side when Saka was left sprawled on the ground, though he managed to recover.
Port Vale began to show more ambition heading into the final quarter of the match, and Arsenal's failure to extend their advantage may have troubled Arteta, prompting him to introduce Gyökeres and Gabriel. Careless play invited unwanted pressure, with Devante Cole, son of Premier League icon Andy, unleashing a long-range effort that sailed just over the crossbar, causing Kepa some concern.
Gyökeres had an opportunity to seal the result, intelligently set up by fellow substitute Max Dowman, but was thwarted by a crucial defensive block from Cameron Humphreys. Additional substitutions brought Declan Rice and Trossard into the action, with the latter finally breaking Port Vale's remaining resolve after 86 minutes, drifting in from the left wing and drilling a low shot into the bottom corner.
Arsenal Player Ratings (4-3-3)
*Ratings provided by FotMob*
Player | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga | 7.3 |
RB: Ben White | 7.2 |
CB: William Saliba | 8.2 |
CB: Cristhian Mosquera | 7.5 |
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly | 8.5 |
CM: Ethan Nwaneri | 7.7 |
CM: Christian Nørgaard | 7.4 |
CM: Eberechi Eze | 8.2 |
RW: Bukayo Saka (c) | 6.8 |
ST: Mikel Merino | 6.7 |
LW: Gabriel Martinelli | 6.6 |
SUB: Max Dowman (63' for Saka) | 6.3 |
SUB: Viktor Gyökeres (71' for Merino) | 6.1 |
SUB: Gabriel (71' for White) | 6.1 |
SUB: Declan Rice (81' for Eze) | N/A |
SUB: Leandro Trossard (81' for Martinelli) | N/A |
Subs not used: David Raya (GK), Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Martín Zubimendi.
Player of the Match: Myles Lewis-Skelly
Port Vale (3-5-2): Joe Gauci; Jesse Debrah, Cameron Humphreys, Connor Hall; Jordan Gabriel, George Hall, Ryan Croasdale, Rhys Walters, Jaheim Headley; Ruari Paton, Ronan Curtis.
Subs: Marko Marosi (GK), Ben Heneghan, Ben Garrity, Funso Ojo, George Byers, Mitchell Clark, Devante Cole, Jayden Stockley, Mo Faal.