ARSENAL plodded to a comfortable win as Mikel Arteta flexed his squad’s immense strength in depth to advance into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The Gunners brushed aside League One outfit Port Vale 2-0 with a goal in each half as they faced little threat from their inferior opponents.
Eberechi Eze netted his first ever goal for Arsenal to open the scoring early in the first half.
The £67.5m man tucked the ball into the bottom corner after a fluid passage of play and a delightful flicked assist from Myles Lewis-Skelly.
While substitute Leandro Trossard secured Arsenal’s place in the next round with a late goal that he rifled into the corner.
Here’s how SunSport’s Joshua Hall rated each individual Arsenal performance…
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA – 6
An Arsenal debut for the former Chelsea man who had little to do in between the sticks.
Alert enough to come off his line and boot away a few balls in behind.
BEN WHITE – 5
Solid when he was called upon defensively and had some decent forays down the right flank.
His relationship with Bukayo Saka was the key to so much of Arsenal’s success two seasons ago, but the pair don’t seem to always be on the same wavelength anymore.
Not a performance that will force him ahead of Jurrien Timber in the pecking order just yet, but in no means a bad outing.
CRISTHIAN MOSQUERA – 8
You wouldn’t believe he had just arrived at the club a matter of months ago and was only 21 years old with the way he organises the players around him.
Always vocal, the centre-back is starting to look like the bargain of the summer at just £14m.
Showed his versatility when he was shifted to right-back following Ben White’s substitution with 20 minutes to go despite one lacklustre pass.
Surely going to have a headache by the time he crawls into bed tonight, having headed the ball countless times as Vale tried to force a chance.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 6
One or two loose touches and nervy moments that could perhaps be put down to complacency given the circumstances.
Even with a summer arrival three years his junior next to him he still seems to be the partner rather than the leader in Arsenal’s centre-back pairing.
Those criticisms are certainly examples of nitpicking for a player that had little to do on the night. He is still an exceptional player that rarely puts a foot wrong.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 7
Delightful flick to set up Eberechi Eze’s opening goal and some nice passing and movement throughout.
Playing higher up the pitch at times gave Arsenal fans a glimpse of what he could offer going forward if he is moved into midfield – where he spent a lot of his time with the youth team.
They used to say that teenagers found it more difficult against lower league opposition because of the physicality that they have to face, but Lewis-Skelly looked like he was playing in his local park at times against the League One opposition.
CHRISTIAN NORGAARD – 7
This is exactly why Mikel Arteta brought Norgaard in this summer, an opportunity to rest his star midfielders but rest assured that their replacement will put in a solid performance.
The experienced Dane kept things ticking in the middle without having to do much more than recycle the ball keep things tight at times.
ETHAN NWANERI – 8
His quick feet and willingness to get forward so often helps Arsenal advance into dangerous positions on the pitch.
Easy to forget that he is just 18 given the way he can shoulder the Gunners’ attacking burden on his own at times.
He should be banging on Arteta’s door asking why he isn’t starting in the big Premier League games given Arsenal’s conservative approach so far this term.
EBERECHI EZE – 8
Opened his Gunners account with a well taken finish into the bottom corner to put the visitors a goal to the good.
Very clearly excels in the central areas that he thrived in for Crystal Palace and needs to be deployed in midfield if Arteta wants to get the best out of him.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Looks like a player brimming with confidence as he constantly tried to take on his man and cause problems.
The Brazilian will be desperate to nail down a starting spot in Arteta’s squad to face Newcastle this weekend after staking a claim as the Gunners’ most in-form attacker.
That hard work didn’t manifest itself in any goal contributions this evening, but he is certainly a eager to impress.
BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Wearing the armband on his first start back after suffering a hamstring injury.
As always, he carried a huge threat down the right flank. However, he still appears to be slightly off the pace.
Many questioned risking him in a game against beatable opposition, and fans all waited with bated breath as he fell to the ground in a slump during the second half.
Fortunately, he shook off what appeared to an impact blow meaning Arteta will feel vindicated that he has put more minutes in the legs of his star man without any issues ahead of Sunday’s Toon Army trip.
MIKEL MERINO – 4
Back starting as a number nine after Arteta opted to rest Viktor Gyokeres ahead of a trip north to face Newcastle this weekend.
His lack of creativity was stark once again, even from that more advanced position, as he failed to find a hatful of dangerous runs from the players around him.
While he lacked conviction in front of goal too, opting not to let fly when gifted an opportunity inside the box after a superb Nwaneri run in the first half.
SUBS
Max Dowman (for Saka, 62min) – 7
You probably haven’t heard but Max Dowman is only 15 – nobody mentions it.
Perhaps it’s time we all stop discussing the teenager’s birthday, because this kid plays like a seasoned pro.
His 30 minute cameo gave the near-3,000 travelling Arsenal fans a glimpse at what the future holds.
Superb first time pass over the top of the Vale back line to find Viktor Gyokeres who should have done more with the opportunity.
Gabriel Magalhaes (for White, 70min) – 6
Brought on to sure things up as Port Vale started posing a late threat in the second half.
Viktor Gyokeres (for Merino, 70min) – 5
Nice run off the back of the Port Vale defenders to get on the end of a first-time Dowman pass.
However, the Swede should have made much more of the through ball, ultimately scuppering the opportunity.
Leandro Trossard (for Martinelli, 81min) – 7
So often he is asked to make an impact from the bench and rarely does he fail to do so.
With nine minutes to play and Arsenal needing a second to put the game to bed, the Belgian fired home a brilliant finish into the bottom left corner to guarantee Arsenal’s place in the draw for the fourth round.
Declan Rice (for Eze, 81min) – N/A
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