Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal: Eze gets his first Gunners goal and Trossard scores

Eberechi Eze scored his first goal for Arsenal as the Premier League title challengers beat a stubborn Port Vale side 2-0 to advance to the last 16 of the EFL Cup.

Match Report

Eze's goal arrived after just eight minutes, as Mikel Arteta selected a strong lineup for Wednesday's tie at Vale Park. There was a hint of fortune about the way the ball reached him as Myles Lewis-Skelly flicked at Gabriel Martinelli's pass without making contact, but the England international coolly slotted home.

Ethan Nwaneri saw an effort deflect wide and Eze fired straight at Joe Gauci after being fed by Mikel Merino, though the third-tier hosts improved in the final 10 minutes of the first half, with a couple of set-pieces forcing the visitors into panicked clearances.

Mikel Arteta introduced 15-year-old Max Dowman for the returning Bukayo Saka just after the hour mark, but his team still failed to turn their territorial dominance into more goals.

Loose passes from Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga almost put Arsenal in trouble, while Port Vale substitute Devante Cole fired narrowly over the crossbar.

But after Viktor Gyokeres was kept out by a wonderful block from Cameron Humphreys, Arsenal got their clinching goal four minutes from time. 

Leandro Trossard brought down William Saliba's lofted pass, skipped inside and fired a reverse shot into the bottom-left corner, with Port Vale's appeals for offside falling upon deaf ears. 

Data Debrief: Eze up and running

But Eze started this match and got his second goal involvement in as many games, finishing with a game-high two shots on target and 0.45 expected goals (xG).

Arsenal have now progressed from 18 of their 19 EFL Cup ties against teams from the third or fourth tiers of English football, only failing when they were memorably beaten by Bradford City in the 2012-13 quarter-finals.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

8' Eze scores first Gunners goal from Martinelli's assist! Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal

23' Highlight from Port Vale vs Arsenal

36' Eze plays through on goal but Joe Gauci keeps his side in it

42' In comes the corner and it drops to Hall but his shot is blocked

48' Martinelli races down on goal but Gauci puts in a brilliant sliding tackle

51' Saka takes a heavy challenge as he slaps the ground in frustration

56' Highlight from Port Vale vs Arsenal

62' Here comes wonder kid Max Dowman and it's Bukayo Saka who makes way

70' Ben White and Mikel Merino are replaced by Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel

75' Arsenal give it away and Cole has a go from distance which is high

79' Gyokeres wants too much time and Cameron is able to put a challenge in

86' GOAL! Trossard fires into the bottom corner! Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Line-ups

Port Vale XI: Connor Hall, Ryan Croasdale, Cameron Humphreys, Ronan Curtis, Jordan Gabriel, Joe Gauci, Ruari Paton, Jaheim Headley, Jesse Debrah, George Hall, Rhys Walters

Subs: Funso Ojo, Jayden Stockley, Devante Cole, George Byers, Marko Marosi, Ben Heneghan, Mitch Clark, Ben Garrity, Mo Faal

Arsenal XI: Christian Nørgaard, Kepa, Merino, Ben White, Eberechi Eze, Martinelli, Saliba, Saka, Cristhian Mosquera, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly

Subs: Trossard, David Raya, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel, Martín Zubimendi, Timber, Calafiori, Max Dowman