Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over Port Vale, advancing to the EFL Cup's last 16. Eberechi Eze opened the scoring early, marking his first goal for Arsenal. The match took place at Vale Park, where Mikel Arteta fielded a strong lineup. Eze's goal came in the eighth minute, benefiting from a fortunate deflection off Myles Lewis-Skelly, allowing him to score with ease.
Despite their dominance, Arsenal struggled to convert chances into goals. Ethan Nwaneri's attempt was deflected wide, and Eze's shot was saved by Joe Gauci after receiving a pass from Mikel Merino. Port Vale improved towards the end of the first half, creating pressure with set-pieces that forced Arsenal into hurried clearances.
Mikel Arteta made strategic changes by introducing Max
Dowman for Bukayo Saka after an hour. However, Arsenal couldn't capitalise on their territorial advantage. Mistakes from Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga nearly cost them, while Port Vale's Devante Cole narrowly missed the target with a shot over the bar.
As the match progressed, Viktor Gyokeres had a chance to equalise for Port Vale but was denied by Cameron Humphreys' excellent block. Arsenal eventually secured their second goal four minutes before full-time. Leandro Trossard controlled William Saliba's long pass and scored with a reverse shot into the bottom-left corner, despite offside appeals from Port Vale.
Eberechi Eze played a crucial role in this match, contributing significantly with two shots on target and an expected goals (xG) value of 0.45. This performance marked his second goal involvement in consecutive games. Arsenal have now advanced from 18 of their last 19 EFL Cup ties against lower-tier teams, only faltering against Bradford City in the 2012-13 quarter-finals.
Arteta's decision to start Eze paid off as he demonstrated his potential on the field. The team's overall performance showcased their ability to handle pressure and secure victories even when faced with challenging opponents like Port Vale.
The win highlights Arsenal's consistent success in cup competitions against lower-league sides. Their ability to progress in such tournaments reflects their depth and quality within the squad.
