Arsenal cruised into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with an easy 3-0 win over Preston North End.
Ethan Nwaneri was the star of the show for the dominant Gunners against outclassed Championship opposition in Wednesday night’s fourth round tie at Deepdale, the 17-year-old midfielder adding to his first senior goals scored in the win over Bolton last month with a superb first-half strike that further underlined his significant potential.
Gabriel Jesus had earlier given Arsenal a deserved lead with his first club goal since January, while substitute Kai Havertz headed home a third following the interval on a hugely satisfying night for Mikel Arteta, who named a much stronger starting lineup than most had expected and also handed a senior debut to teenage goalkeeper Tommy Setford.
Arsenal were in total control from the outset in a thoroughly one-sided first half in Lancashire, going ahead inside 25 minutes with Jesus lashing emphatically past Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman after Jakub Kiwior had nodded down Gabriel Martinelli’s free-kick to the back post.
Arteta’s side continued to sustain their relentless pressure and got further reward less than 10 minutes later when Nwaneri received possession from Jesus before opening up his body and curling a remarkable strike into the far top corner with a helpless Woodman left rooted to the spot.
There was simply no let-up from dominant Arsenal, who sent on both Havertz and Thomas Partey at half-time and also introduced Bukayo Saka from the bench after Havertz had made it 3-0 just before the hour mark with a bullet header from Kiwior’s left-wing cross that flew into the back of the net.
More to follow
