Eze Scores First Arsenal Goal as Gunners See Off Port Vale in Carabao Cup‎

Eze Scores First Arsenal Goal as Gunners See Off Port Vale in Carabao Cup‎

By Bashir Adigun
Contributor

Arsenal booked their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 victory over Port Vale at Vale Park on Wednesday night, thanks to goals from Eberechi Eze and substitute Leandro Trossard.
Eze opened his Arsenal account in just the eighth minute, calmly slotting past goalkeeper Joe Gauci after combining neatly with Gabriel Martinelli and academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly. It was the 26-year-old’s first goal since his summer move from Crystal Palace, marking his arrival at the club in style.
Despite Arsenal’s early breakthrough, the tie remained finely poised for much of the game. Ethan Nwaneri, making his first start of the season, went close with a deflected effort, while Eze saw another attempt well saved midway through the first half. The hosts, roared on by a crowd of over 16,000, pushed hard for an equaliser, with Devante Cole testing the Gunners’ backline and George Hall forcing Cristhian Mosquera into a key clearance.
Mikel Arteta, who made nine changes from the side that faced Manchester City at the weekend, handed a debut to Christian Norgaard and a first start to Kepa Arrizabalaga, though the Spaniard had little to do as Arsenal limited Vale to few clear chances.
With the game still in the balance late on, Arteta introduced Leandro Trossard, and the Belgian duly secured progression in the 86th minute. Latching onto a lofted pass from William Saliba, Trossard cut inside before firing low into the net to silence hopes of a Port Vale comeback.
The win marked Arsenal’s first visit to Vale Park in 27 years, and unlike the FA Cup clash of 1998 which went to penalties, the Gunners needed only eight minutes this time to assert themselves.
Arsenal will now face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in the next round. Attention quickly shifts back to the Premier League with a trip to Newcastle United on Sunday, before Champions League action against Olympiacos midweek.