Arsenal: Setford, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Merino, Sterling, Jesus, Martinelli
Subs: Raya, Lewis-Skelly, Heaven, Nichols, Partey, Rice, Saka, Trossard, Havertz
Arsenal secured their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating Preston 3-0 at Deepdale, thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz.
Mikel Arteta made eight changes to the side that drew against Liverpool on Sunday, with William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho, Raheem Sterling and Jesus all among the starters.
Tommy Setford was also handed his senior debut after joining from Ajax this summer, with Nwaneri also involved from the off after scoring twice against Bolton in the previous round.
It was a confident start from Arsenal who were moving the ball nicely without creating any opportunities, although the first chance did fall to Nwaneri who fired over off balance after being set up by Sterling.
Preston had their first sight of goal moments later and probably should have scored after Liam Lindsay found himself unmarked following a set piece, but headed over with Setford caught in no man’s land.
However, the Gunners did break the deadlock after 25 minutes when Jesus flashed a well struck volley past goalkeeper Freddie Woodman after Jakub Kiwior headed a deep free kick back across goal. 1-0.
It was a much-needed goal for the Brazilian – regardless of opposition – who netted his first Arsenal goal since January.
There was another chance for Nwaneri shortly after but the teenager couldn’t strike the ball cleanly from Mikel Merino’s awkward cutback, but three minutes later he would double the visitors’ lead with a sensational strike.
After receiving the ball from Jesus on the edge of the box, he opened his body, guided his first touch inside and whipped a gorgeous strike into the top corner which left Woodman rooted to his spot. 2-0.
It was another magic moment which illustrated his quality and increasing readiness to contribute at senior level.
Heading into the second half, Arteta made two changes with Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz replacing Jurrien Timber and Merino, with a difficult trip to St James’ Park on Saturday likely in mind.
And one of those substitutes made an instant impact when Havertz found a yard on his marker and powered home a header from Kiwior’s teasing cross. It was a clinical finish from the German who celebrated with minimal fuss. 3-0.
Arteta kept the changes coming with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Bukayo Saka also replacing Zinchenko and Martinelli who each got through an hour’s work.
Jesus almost doubled his tally after being found by Sterling who breezed past two Preston defenders in transition, but Woodman was equal to his curled finish before making another excellent stop from Sterling on the rebound.
Nwaneri was inches away from making it 4-0 after collecting a disguised pass through the lines from Jorginho, but curled his effort onto the crossbar after killing the ball dead with a brilliant first touch. That ended up being his last action of the match after he was replaced by Ayden Heaven with ten minutes remaining.
There was another late chance for Preston when Emil Riis found himself between the two Gunners centre backs but shot wide on the stretch.
With the game ticking into extra time, another mazy run from Sterling almost ended up in a goal but his left footed strike was blocked by Whatmough despite beating two players.
Sterling thought he would eventually get his goal in injury time but incredible defending from Brad Potts blocked his effort on the line after Havertz did well to round Woodman.
This fixture was a welcome palette cleanser for Arsenal who made several changes and still won comfortably away from home, with valuable minutes being put into the legs and lungs of fringe players.
A goal for Jesus, Nwaneri looks special and all eyes now move to Newcastle.
Cool and good
Quarter finals? Shit. That was easy. Maybe I’ll revoke my turning my nose up at this competition…
Only three games away from silverware!!
COYG!!!
Got thumbed down earlier in the season for saying we should take this seriously. I see the likes of Big Gabi are DESPERATE to get their hands on a first trophy for us… And who knows what a taste of it would unlock in these guys?
The reality though is that it is going to be harder to win this year for sure. Look at all the teams that have scaled through. But if any is capable of doing it, we 100% are these days!
Well, looks like City could be out. Which makes us joint favourites.
***Channelling Steve Morrow***
As are the miraculously now-functional Chelsea.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
I love this competition. Way less stressful to watch, fun to see a different side to the team, enjoyable to wTch thy youngsters flourish
He didn’t get his goal but I feel safe enough already to say that the Sterling hate has been more than unjustified. I know it’s only Preston but the kind of skills he flashed today I haven’t seen from many players, Preston or otherwise. He’s clearly shown he has something left in the tank and for me the former-Chelsea-player-recovery-project v3.0 is truly underway now, hope the fans get behind him sooner rather than later.
Oh and Nwaneri is an insane talent.
Exactly this. He is not as effective on the right as he is on the left. I think given more game time, he could be a REAL threat. It’s so typical of fans to just want to pick a scape goat and vilify them as much as possible. They were doing the same with Mikel Merino after the Bournemouth game (where he was just recovering from an injury and had played less than 100 minutes for us at the time!)
Totally agree with this. Only unbelievable defending denied him two goals today. If he keeps putting this kind of effort in, the goals will surely come for him.
People talk about Barca’s La Masia academy all the time… Not saying Hale End is up to that standard (which other is, in all fairness?), but I think we deserve some accolades, too. Nwaneri is shaping up to be one in a long line of truly gifted footballers forged in our academy. That kid looks special!
Gutted for him to not get that second goal when he hit the crossbar, his performance more than deserved it. I’ve been trying to curb my enthusiasm but I think it’s becoming… uncurbable? He just seems to know exactly what he wants to do with the ball before he gets it, and there doesn’t seem to be much he can’t do with it. Not normal for a 17 year old.
Exactly! Wanted to temper my expectations, but it is HARD not to get excited. The thing I am most impressed with him for is the incredible maturity he displays on the ball. Brilliant stuff, really
Its also true that it isn’t just him. MLS has a shot as well. Saka is only a few years older than him and ESR was only squeezed out after injuries at the wrong time. When the current iteration of the Academy was started, we were told it would take a decade before it started producing results.
Now it is more a talent production line. Not at the La Masia’s standard yet, but anything is possible, especially with the BFG in charge.
I love this team. Ruthless and relentless.
Nwaneri should be in Odegaard’s position until Odegaard returns
So after defence:-
Rice Merino
(Partey) (Jorginho )
Saka. Nwaneri. Martinelli
(Sterling) (Trossard)
Havertz ( Jesus)
Fortunately we also now know Partey can cover for White at right back when he is needed in central defence as a replacement for Saliba
Tough call between Ethan and Raheem for MOTM for me. Ethan has shown enough, especially in terms of defensive awareness, to be given a PL start rather sooner than later I think. And Sterling looked electrifying. Pity he doesn’t add a goal to that performance. Would absolutely have deserved one.
would be a bit of a crime at this point not to give him a start, especially if we’re still a couple of weeks away from Odegaard returning. He’s well and truly earned it at this point.
With Nwaneri, the goal was just the icing on the cake. Its his general play and a maturity way beyond hid years that screams out for a first team start
Let’s not get carried away. Our next three matches are Newcastle away, Inter Milan away, and Chel$ea away. Not ideal to start him in any of those.
Thank you
Fair point, those are some monster games and atmospheres for a young player to handle, and you don’t want to risk having to yank him at half time if he doesn’t do well.
But given how well he’s done every time he’s gotten on the pitch, the other options available to us in that position (or lack of options), and how mediocre our attacking has been, it’s also hard to justify starting anyone else there. So what gives?
Oof that Nwaneri goal! “Chefs kiss”
Nwaneri should be banging on the manager’s door and demanding to start in the next PL game.
he’s playing now and he’ll play more, and we will all be happy.
No: he’s just played in a League Cup game against Preston. Arteta still doesn’t trust him to start a PL game. But he should.
Odegaard will not get his place back now that we have the assist machine Kiwior.
Tremendous goal by Nwaneri. What a talent.