Arsenal star shined in a new role in victory over Port Vale | OneFootball

Eze shines as Arsenal progress in Carabao Cup

Arsenal’s latest step in the Carabao Cup was taken without fuss, a controlled 2-0 win at Port Vale that underlined the breadth of resources now available to Mikel Arteta. It was not the kind of performance destined to live long in the memory, yet within its rhythms came a glimpse of something more significant: Eberechi Eze scoring his first goal for the club.

His strike, an eighth-minute finish coolly dispatched after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s clever flick, was both the spark Arsenal needed and a statement of intent from a player still bedding into his new surroundings. For Eze, who has already provided two assists since arriving in the summer, this was the moment his Arsenal story truly began.

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Control without spectacle

Arsenal dominated the ball, finishing with over 80 per cent possession, but this was less about spectacle and more about efficiency. Port Vale resisted for long spells, showing discipline under Darren Moore, yet they rarely threatened Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal. They managed no shots on target, their rare moments of promise coming when Arsenal’s back line took liberties playing out.

Leandro Trossard’s late strike eventually secured the result, but in truth Arsenal were in control from start to finish. They hit the target only four times, yet never allowed the tie to drift out of their hands. This was a professional win, a reminder that cup progress often requires pragmatism rather than panache.

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Depth defines Arteta’s Arsenal

The summer outlay of close to £250 million was about more than headline signings. It was about creating a squad deep enough to compete across competitions, and nights like this highlight that ambition.

Arteta made nine changes from the side that faced Manchester City, yet the drop in quality was minimal. The bench, valued at nearly £400 million, featured an array of senior internationals. Bukayo Saka, making his return from a hamstring injury, started and completed an hour. William Saliba was introduced, while Kepa Arrizabalaga debuted in goal.

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What emerges from these details is a picture of a squad brimming with options, where competition is fierce and standards remain high. That strength in depth will be critical if Arsenal are to maintain momentum across domestic and European fronts.

Eze off the mark

Eze’s goal may have come in Stoke on a cold midweek evening, but its importance cannot be overstated. For the 27-year-old, scoring in an Arsenal shirt fulfils a childhood dream. The move that led to it had the hallmarks of Arteta’s philosophy: fluid, incisive, collective.

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“It was the first time he had started in a central role for Arsenal and he looked at ease,” one observer noted after the game. His composure, vision and willingness to demand the ball suggest that more will follow. With his first goal secured, Eze’s influence is likely to grow as the season unfolds.

For Arsenal, the Carabao Cup has long been a testing ground. This night, however, may be remembered not for the result but for the sight of Eze announcing himself in red and white.