Arsenal Defeat Port Vale as Eze Scores First Goal in Carabao Cup | OneFootball

Arsenal Progress Past Port Vale in Carabao Cup Clash

Eberechi Eze announced his arrival in style with his first goal for Arsenal as they overcame a spirited Port Vale side to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round.

The £60m signing struck inside eight minutes, calmly finishing from Gabriel Martinelli’s pass. It was his sixth appearance for the club and a moment he had clearly been waiting for. He might have doubled his tally before the interval, racing on to Mikel Merino’s clever ball, but Port Vale goalkeeper Joe Gauci was equal to the task.

Port Vale Show Their Fight

Port Vale, promoted to League One only last season, refused to bow to the Premier League giants. Their set-pieces unsettled Arsenal and, at 1-0, the game remained alive. Substitute Devante Cole almost produced a fairytale equaliser, his curling effort from distance drifting narrowly over with 15 minutes to play.

Yet Arsenal’s quality told in the end. Leandro Trossard settled the contest with a powerful finish late on, ensuring safe passage and setting up a tie against his former club Brighton in the next round.

Arsenal Balancing Depth and Expectation

For all their historic pedigree in domestic cups, Arsenal’s relationship with the League Cup has been curiously fragile. Two wins – in 1987 and 1993 – sit in stark contrast to their 14 FA Cup triumphs. Last season’s run ended in a heavy semi-final defeat to Newcastle, but the current squad appears better equipped to go deep again.

Mikel Arteta rang the changes, with nine alterations from the weekend draw against Manchester City. The rotated side dominated possession but at times lacked fluency, relying on flashes of individual quality rather than sustained pressure.

Eze’s Breakthrough and Arteta’s Verdict

For Eze, this was a night of both relief and promise. After a high-profile return to north London, he is still adapting to his new teammates’ rhythms. Arteta acknowledged as much after the game:

“He played very centrally against a team that’s super compact inside. It’s not easy to find spaces, but he’s very capable with the ball. He needs to still to play a little more time with those guys to understand the timings… In general, very good – there is still a lot more to give, I think.”

Bukayo Saka’s 60-minute run-out, as he continues to recover from hamstring issues, added another positive to an otherwise workmanlike evening. Arsenal were not at their sparkling best, but they got what they needed – progress, a clean sheet, and the sense that this squad has layers still to be revealed.