Three things we learned from Arsenal win as squad depth is highlighted and Eberechi Eze passes audition

In partnership with

Evening Standard

·24 septembre 2025

Three things we learned from Arsenal win as squad depth is highlighted and Eberechi Eze passes audition

Gunners once again demonstrate their strength in depth after Mikel Arteta made nine changes for the Carabao Cup tie

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

Vidéos OneFootball

Sign up

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Arsenal made it through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup by defeating Port Vale.

Eberechi Eze opened the scoring for the Gunners in the eighth minute, finding the net for the first time since his move across London in the summer.

Port Vale, however, did not fold after going behind early and it was not until the 86th minute that Leandro Trossard scored Arsenal’s second.

The 2-0 win booked Arsenal a spot in the fourth round and, in truth, they were rarely troubled on their way there.

And, here, Standard Sport looks at three things we learned from Arsenal’s win at Vale Park…

Arsenal get the job done

If Arsenal do go on to lift the Carabao Cup at Wembley next March, few will remember their journey starting, here, at Vale Park.

This was a classic case of Arsenal getting the job done against stubborn lower league opponents.

When Eze put Mikel Arteta’s side ahead in the opening 10 minutes, you wonder if Port Vale might collapse.

Darren Moore’s side, however, dug in and battled - and it was not until late on that they conceded a second.

Leaving it late: Leandro Trossard

AFP via Getty Images

Arsenal controlled the game in between the two goals, finishing the match with just over 80 per cent possession.

Port Vale had to feed off scraps, their only moments of joy coming when Arsenal were loose playing out from the back. Even still, the League One side did not manage a single shot on target.

Arsenal were not overly threatening themselves, only hitting the target four times themselves, but it was more than enough to get them into the next round.

Arsenal show their strength in depth

Much has been made about Arsenal’s summer splurge this summer, which saw them bring in eight new players for around £250million.

It was done to raise the competition in the squad and to provide Arteta with the depth to fight on four fronts.

And this, here, was proof of its value. Arteta made nine changes to the team that started against Manchester City last Sunday, however there was no drop in quality. The bench was also stacked with talent, too, and worth just under £400m.

Minutes in the tank: Bukayo Saka

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Bukayo Saka and William Saliba were among those to come in, while there was a debut for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, too.

Saka’s inclusion may have caught a few by surprise, but Arteta had said in his pre-match press conference how the winger needed minutes.

The winger has just returned from four weeks out with a hamstring injury and he got an hour under his belt against Port Vale before coming off.

Eze off the mark

When Eze was dreaming about one day scoring his first goal for Arsenal, he probably did not imagine it would be on a cold Wednesday night in Stoke.

Not that the 27-year-old will care, as he will just be delighted to get off the mark for his new club.

Eze had already contributed two assists before this trip to Port Vale, but this time he found the back of the net.

Off the mark: Eberechi Eze

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

It was a lovely goal, too, the type that Eze would have watched Arsenal score when growing up.

The Gunners worked the ball swiftly from right to left and, when Gabriel Martinelli crossed it into the box, Myles Lewis-Skelly’s deft flick laid it onto the on-rushing Eze.

The England star cooly slotted the ball home and it capped off a decent display from him, in what was a first start for him for Arsenal in a central playmaking role.