Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal: Report, result and goals as Eze opens Gunners account

Arsenal eased into the fourth round of the EFL Cup as Eberechi Eze’s first goal for the club helped secure a 2-0 win at League One Port Vale.

Having been held to a potentially damaging 1-1 draw by Manchester City in the Premier League last Sunday, the Gunners rediscovered the winning feeling in a competition in which they reached the semi-finals last season.

They needed just eight minutes to break the deadlock as Eze opened his account for the club.

Yet the floodgates did not open, with Darren Moore’s hosts worthy of great credit for the manner in which they managed to hold Arsenal at bay thereafter.

Arsenal’s frustration was alleviated late on, though, Leandro Trossard netting his second goal of the season after scoring in the Champions League win over Athletic Bilbao last week, that strike killing off any prospect of Mikel Arteta’s men suffering a dramatic upset in their bid to win the EFL Cup for the first time since 1993.

Port Vale v Arsenal

Eze took his chance to open the scoring with consummate ease, coolly slotting into the bottom-left corner after Myles Lewis-Skelly had flicked Gabriel Martinelli’s pass into the box into his path.

Arsenal’s predictable dominance of position didn’t yield too many opportunities to add to their lead until Eze bore down on goal in the 36th minute.

Mikel Merino, who had earlier headed wide from a Bukayo Saka cross, played Eze through, but Joe Gauci was this time equal to the England forward’s effort.

Port Vale remained admirably obdurate in the second half without threatening the Arsenal goal, though Devante Cole did flash an effort over the crossbar from outside the area 14 minutes from the end of normal time.

But the hosts’ resistance was eventually broken 10 minutes later when Trossard latched onto a long ball forward from William Saliba and was afforded the time and space to surge forward and fire beyond a helpless Gauci.

Their progression secured, Arsenal’s attention will return to Premier League matters and a clash with Newcastle United, who beat the Gunners in last season’s EFL Cup semi-final en route to winning the trophy.

Arsenal go into that game with still only one defeat to their name in all competitions but, after an unconvincing showing against third-tier opposition, Arteta will know more will be needed of his side if they are to get back on track in the league at St James’ Park.