Arsenal easily brushed aside Preston to reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. The Championship hosts proved no match for Mikel Arteta’s stronger-than-expected side at Deepdale in Wednesday night’s one-sided fourth round tie, with Arsenal getting another stunning performance in midfield from 17-year-old prodigy Ethan Nwaneri.
The talented teenage prospect curled home a wonderful strike to double the Gunners’ first-half advantage in Lancashire, after Gabriel Jesus had earlier lashed home his first Arsenal goal since January to reward Arteta’s team for their dominant start. There was no let up from there either, with the likes of Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka sent on by Arteta and the former completing the scoring with a thumping second-half header from Jakub Kiwior’s cross - one of two assists on the night from the Polish defender.
Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli also both had goals chalked off on the most comfortable of nights for Arsenal, who will now host London rivals Crystal Palace in December for a place in the last four. Follow Preston vs Arsenal reaction live below, including expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale.
Preston vs Arsenal highlights
- GOAL! Substitute Havertz hammers home header
- GOAL! Nwaneri doubles lead with brilliant strike
- GOAL! Gabriel Jesus fires Arsenal in front
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
22:46 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale
A comfortable night's work for Arsenal. Plenty of positives for Mikel Arteta, with Gabriel Jesus back among the goals.
Ethan Nwaneri the star of the show, though. A great goal from the 17-year-old, who did not look out of place.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:38 , George FloodFull-time
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:37 , George Flood93 mins: A goal-line clearance at the death denies Sterling again after good work from Havertz.
There won’t be time for the corner.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:37 , George Flood90 mins: Three minutes of added time signalled at Deepdale.
Sterling is desperate to get on the scoresheet as he finds space brilliantly inside the box, but Whatmough makes an excellent block.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:34 , George Flood88 mins: Havertz sweeps home another from Jesus’ low pass, but the officials judge that the ball went out before the Brazilian knocked it across.
That also looked the right decision.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:29 , George Flood85 mins: A real chance for Preston to grab that late consolation, but Riis sends it wide from Frokjaer’s right-wing cross.
Setford not the most convincing there, it must be said.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:28 , George Flood83 mins: Frokjaer with a bit of dissent towards the referee after a challenge and he’s booked.
Some good stuff from Preston in the last few minutes, but they just can’t find that consolation goal.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:27 , George Flood81 mins: The excellent Nwaneri is serenaded with chants of “he’s one of our own” as he heads off, replaced by fellow academy graduate Ayden Heaven.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:23 , George Flood79 mins: Saka twists and turns inside the Preston box but fails to get much power on a tame low strike that is easily gathered by Woodman.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:22 , George Flood77 mins: This is end-to-end stuff now inside the final 15 minutes at Deepdale, with Preston throwing some caution to the wind with this tie long since beyond them.
Some more superb touches from Nwaneri as he drills wide at one end, but Preston counter quickly and Setford makes a smart save from Riis.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:18 , George Flood74 mins: Thordarson into the book for a poor challenge on Havertz.
Alert goalkeeping from Setford to cut out that cross from Preston skipper Ledson, with Riis lurking in the middle.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:16 , George Flood71 mins: A fourth change from Preston has seen teenage defender Kian Best replace Hughes, who was on a yellow.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:14 , George Flood70 mins: GOOAA.. NO!
Nwaneri fires in low past Woodman but the whistle had already gone for offside against Havertz.
Right decision. 20 minutes to go and you sense that there are easily still a couple more goals in this for Arsenal if they want them.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:1267 mins: The Preston goal remains under siege as more Arsenal corners are forced and Riis gets away with hauling down his man in the box.
Nwaneri fires well off target.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:10 , George Flood65 mins: It really should be 4-0, only for Woodman to make about three excellent saves in quick succession to deny Jesus and Sterling.
Arsenal force a succession of corners and a Preston defender clears off the line after his team-mate had inadvertently flicked on at the near post.
Very nearly an own goal.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:09 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale
A penny for Preston's thoughts. 3-0 down, about 30 minutes to go, and Bukayo Saka comes on.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:0863 mins: Absolutely no respite at all for Preston here as Arteta now sends on Saka for Martinelli.
Lewis-Skelly also replaces Zinchenko.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:05 , George Flood60 mins: A triple change on the hour from Paul Heckingbottom as Potts, Frokjaer and Riis replace Kesler-Hayden, Bowler and Greenwood.
Preston almost pull one back as a low shot rolls agonisingly wide, but the offside flag is up. It wouldn’t have counted.
Preston 0-3 Arsenal
21:04Standard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale
Activity on the Preston bench, I think it is damage limitation for the hosts now. They know the game is gone.
GOAL! Preston 0-3 Arsenal | Kai Havertz 57'
21:00 , George Flood57 mins: Surely game, set and match now!
Jesus gets his header all wrong as the ball finally comes in after a short free-kick, but Arsenal keep the pressure up and substitute Havertz beats Woodman all ends up with an absolute bullet of a header from Kiwior’s pinpoint cross from the left.
Emphatic from Arsenal.
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:59 , George Flood54 mins: The stylish Martinelli tricks his way inside off the Arsenal left, but his low shot fails to overly trouble Woodman.
Hughes now joins Preston team-mate Kesler-Hayden in the book for dragging down Jesus.
Arsenal with another free-kick in a great position.
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:58 , George Flood52 mins: A little bit more intent from Preston now but a hopeful strike from Danish winger Okkels is well blocked.
At the other end, some solid defending from Whatmough thwarts Sterling.
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:56 , George Flood50 mins: Arsenal largely pick up where they left off at the start of the second half, though Preston suddenly break down the left wing and a whipped cross is claimed well by Setford, who otherwise hasn’t had much to do at all on his senior debut so far tonight.
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:53Standard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale
Just when Preston thought that Arteta may send the kids on, he brings on Havertz and Partey at half-time.
Just over £100m worth of talent.
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:49 , George FloodA little bit of a surprise here with Arteta bringing on both Havertz and Partey at half-time.
Merino and Timber have gone off, with Partey going to right-back again.
Was that always the plan for Timber tonight after he was forced off again against Liverpool at the weekend?
Seems likely. Back underway.
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:42Standard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale
Arsenal utterly dominant and worthy leaders.
A big goal for Jesus, who found the net for the first time since January, but that half was all about Nwaneri.
A brilliant goal to cap off a very lively performance. Special talent.
Half-time
20:36 , George FloodPreston 0-2 Arsenal
The Gunners are absolutely cruising at Deepdale after Gabriel Jesus' first Arsenal goal since January and a wonderful strike from young Ethan Nwaneri. Total dominance.
Preston thoroughly second best. Mikel Arteta’s side with one foot firmly planted in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:35 , George Flood47 mins: Calm enough from Setford as Preston look to hit back before the break.
Merino down briefly for Arsenal but nothing serious.
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:33 , George Flood44 mins: Woodman comes off his line to just about avert more Arsenal danger with Jesus lurking.
Preston have a man down as we tick into two minutes of first-half stoppage time.
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:3042 mins: It is still all Arsenal with half-time approaching at Deepdale.
They remain in total control of the ball as they launch wave after wave of attack, albeit with no further clear-cut chances since Nwaneri’s belting strike.
No quality from Preston at all and they are giving up space all over the pitch.
Chasing shadows.
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:25 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale
A confession, a little yelp came out of me when Nwaneri curled that in. Outrageous finish...
Preston 0-2 Arsenal
20:2436 mins: Arsenal are not merely content with their two first-half goals here and are still piling on the pressure.
Preston need to gain some composure and find an out ball, fast.
If not, this could get ugly.
GOAL! Preston 0-2 Arsenal | Ethan Nwaneri 33'
20:19 , George Flood33 mins: What a strike from the 17-year-old, who also netted twice in the last round against Bolton.
He receives the ball from Jesus before opening up his body and curling a brilliant strike into the top corner with the helpless Woodman left rooted to the spot.
Absolute top quality. What a talent.
A mountain to climb for North End now. Arsenal on easy street with their fans loving life in that away end.
Preston 0-1 Arsenal
20:16 , George Flood29 mins: Lindsay misses the chance to test Setford again before Arsenal quickly apply more pressure and Nwaneri shoots tamely low at Woodman after fine build-up play including a tidy lay-off from Merino.
He should have done much better with that.
Preston 0-1 Arsenal
20:14 , George Flood26 mins: Preston are trying to register a swift reply here as they force a corner, but there’s a break in play with Martinelli staying down after what looked like a fair challenge from Thordarson.
He’s struggling and will need treatment.
Preston 0-1 Arsenal
20:12 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale
Gabriel Jesus' first goal for Arsenal since January. Mobbed by his team-mates after he scored. He needed that.
GOAL! Preston 0-1 Arsenal | Gabriel Jesus 24'
20:10 , George Flood22 mins: Martinelli takes on Kesler-Hayden, who brings down the Brazilian and receives the first yellow card of the evening from referee Peter Bankes.
Martinelli delivers high from near the byline, with the ball headed down by Kiwior at the back post before being lashed in emphatically by Jesus.
No chance for Woodman. Arsenal in front.
Preston 0-0 Arsenal
20:07 , George Flood19 mins: There’s no out ball for Preston at the moment and they are constantly giving it back to Arsenal, for whom Sterling and Nwaneri are still the most dangerous players.
Jorginho has a hopeful effort blocked.
Preston 0-0 Arsenal
20:0316 mins: Preston’s best passage of the game so far as they play the ball confidently through the middle and then win a free-kick wide on the right.
Greenwood’s dangerous delivery is headed high and wide by Lindsay with Setford in no man’s land there.
Preston 0-0 Arsenal
20:01 , George Flood14 mins: Nothing doing from the corner as Sterling’s delivery is easily gathered by Preston ‘keeper Woodman at his front post.
Here come Arsenal again and it’s Sterling and Nwaneri linking up once more, the latter falling over as he fires well off target.
Woodman is struggling with his kicking early on here as he sends one straight out of play on the near side to invite more Arsenal pressure.
Preston 0-0 Arsenal
19:59 , George Flood12 mins: Arsenal look to attack down that right flank again through Sterling and Nwaneri, but disciplined and determined Preston keep their defensive shape well.
Okkels then gets back to make an important clearance.
A pull from Whatmough goes unpunished before Sterling forces a Gunners corner as the pressure ramps up.
Preston 0-0 Arsenal
19:57 , George Flood9 mins: An inviting ball from the fleet-footed Nwaneri falls safe before Sterling and Jesus go for the same delivery sent over the top and rather get in each other’s way.
No real early scares for Preston here, despite Arsenal dominating possession.
Nothing at all to trouble debutant Setford at the other end just yet.
Preston 0-0 Arsenal
19:55 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale
Already some lovely touches from Nwaneri, who looks sharp.
Arsenal in their usual 4-3-3 tonight, as opposed to the 4-4-2 of recent weeks, with Nwaneri playing in that Odegaard role.
Preston 0-0 Arsenal
19:54 , George Flood6 mins: Arsenal are looking to get Sterling involved in the action plenty early on here, but he concedes a free-kick before managing to deliver the ball into the box.
Preston 0-0 Arsenal
19:50 , George Flood4 mins: Absolute domination of the ball from Arsenal in these opening exchanges, but they have yet to fashion a chance of any description.
A clever ball from Nwaneri almost leads to a chance from Sterling after good work from Timber, but Preston have enough bodies in the box and Bowler cuts it out.
Decent play from Sterling cutting in off the Arsenal right.
Preston 0-0 Arsenal
19:48 , George Flood2 mins: Plenty of possession for Arsenal early on here, as you might expect.
A lot of short passes inside their own half as they patiently knock the ball around and await an early opening.
Arsenal are all in black tonight, with Preston in white.
The 5,600 travelling Gunners fans are in fine voice.
Preston vs Arsenal
19:46 , George FloodUnderway at Deepdale!
Will Arsenal avoid a big upset to book their spot in the quarter-finals?
Time to find out...
Preston vs Arsenal
19:44 , George FloodThe teams are out at Deepdale!
Kick-off is imminent in this Carabao Cup fourth round clash.
Preston vs Arsenal
19:44 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale
Huge away support for Arsenal tonight - they literally have a whole stand.
Ethan Nwaneri's name getting a huge cheer as it is read out.
A huge challenge in store for Preston tonight against what is a vastly experienced and expensively assembled Arsenal team...
Arsenal XI tonight cost around £212m - and that includes Nwaneri (academy product) and Sterling (loan).
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) October 30, 2024
386 senior international caps between - and that includes Nwaneri and Setford (both youth internationals).
Tommy Setford eager to impress on Arsenal debut
19:32 , George FloodA big night in store for this man.
England Under-19 international Tommy Setford joined Arsenal from Dutch giants Ajax in a £1m deal over the summer as Mikel Arteta searched for a young, homegrown option to be the club’s new No3 goalkeeper with Karl Hein loaned to Real Valladolid in Spain.
The 18-year-old has struggled with a hip injury in his debut season at the Emirates, which denied him a debut against Bolton in the third round with Bournemouth loanee Neto - a fellow summer arrival and No1 David Raya’s usual deputy - cup-tied in this competition.
16-year-old academy ‘keeper Jack Porter made his debut instead and made history in the process as Arsenal’s youngest-ever starter, but tonight Setford gets his chance with Raya in reserve.
Arsenal team selection shows Mikel Arteta trophy ambition
19:22 , George FloodHere’s more from Simon Collings at Deepdale on that Arsenal team news as Mikel Arteta underlines his trophy ambition...
🗣️ "Stronger than we thought from Arteta, showing his trophy ambition."@sr_collings reacts to that slightly surprising Arsenal team news from Deepdale
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) October 30, 2024
LIVE: https://t.co/k9KgrAGf5q#PNEARS | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/x4WIZ7HkxR
Mikel Arteta springs Arsenal selection surprise
19:16Standard Sport’s Simon Collings at Deepdale
That is a very strong team from Arteta, but, in fairness, a few of those starting desperately need minutes.
Zinchenko, for example, has played 10 minutes since the opening day of the season.
Six Preston changes after Plymouth collapse
19:03 , George FloodPreston boss Paul Heckingbottom - who took over from Ryan Lowe in August - makes six changes to the team that inexplicably threw away that three-goal half-time lead to draw at Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth in the Championship on Saturday.
Jack Whatmough is the only change to the back five as he replaces Jordan Storey.
Plenty of alterations elsewhere though, with Ryan Ledson, Stefan Teitur Thordarson, Duane Holmes and Jeppe Okkels all coming in, while Nottingham Forest loanee Josh Bowler has recovered from illness to start.
Mads Frokjaer, Ben Whiteman, Ali McCann and Emil Riis all drop to the bench along with Storey, while the injured Robbie Brady misses out.
Preston lineup
18:53 , George FloodPreston XI: Woodman, Kesler-Hayden, Whatmough, Lindsay, Hughes, Ledson, Thordarson, Bowler, Holmes, Okkels, Greenwood
Subs: Cornell, Storey, Best, Potts, Whiteman, McCann, Frokjaer, Riis, Stewart
Setford makes debut as Arteta names strong Arsenal team
18:49 , George FloodSo that’s a much stronger Arsenal lineup than many expected.
Tommy Setford makes his senior Gunners debut in goal, but Ethan Nwaneri is the only other youngster in the starting XI tonight.
Jurrien Timber starts despite being forced off against Liverpool, joined in defence by William Saliba after his one-match suspension.
Jakub Kiwior joins Saliba at the back while Oleksandr Zinchenko is preferred to Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back.
Jorginho and Mikel Merino join Nwaneri in midfield, while a strong attack sees Gabriel Jesus flanked by Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Martinelli.
It’s a mix of top stars and youngsters on the bench, with David Raya, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard, Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz joined by Josh Nichols, Lewis-Skelly and Ayden Heaven.
Arsenal lineup
18:34 , George FloodArsenal XI: Setford, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Sterling, Martinelli, Jesus
Subs: Raya, Nichols, Lewis-Skelly, Heaven, Partey, Rice, Trossard, Saka, Havertz
Standard Sport’s Arsenal correspondent Simon Collings has arrived at Deepdale, where we could be in for a bit of a foggy night...
Greetings from Deepdale. pic.twitter.com/hskzak6UjZ
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) October 30, 2024
Deepdale ready for Arsenal test
18:21 , George FloodTonight’s venue, where Arsenal have only visited twice since 1960.
These two grand old clubs of English football met plenty in big games during the early 20th century, but have not been in the same division since all the way back in 1959/60.
Preston are one of the few clubs currently operating in the Championship never to have played in the top-flight in the Premier League era.
Mikel Arteta on importance of squad rotation for Arsenal
18:07 , George FloodHere’s what Mikel Arteta had to say about the importance of squad rotation for Arsenal as they face a critical week coming up with three consecutive away trips - visits to Newcastle and Chelsea in the Premier League sandwiched between a Champions League journey to reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan.
“It is important,” Arteta said. “There are players who haven’t played that much, and they will have their chance tomorrow, that’s for sure.
“But you have to earn the right to play and when you have that right, you have to perform, and perform in a way to help impact the team to win the game.
“That’s what we are going to demand of anybody. Whether you are young, you are an experienced player or you’ve been playing regularly for us.”
Previous meeting
17:57 , George FloodArsenal have only played Preston three times since 1960 and just once this century.
Their only meeting since 1999 came back in January 2017, when the Gunners won 2-1 at Deepdale in the third round of the FA Cup after goals from Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud cancelled out Callum Robinson’s opener.
Arsenal were under Arsene Wenger still then, while Preston were managed by Simon Grayson.
Here is the Arsenal team from that day...
Ospina, Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Gabriel, Monreal, Xhaka, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Lucas, Giroud
Preston vs Arsenal prediction
17:39 , George FloodThe Gunners may not be at full strength but have a batch of exciting youngsters who will no doubt be looking to stake their claim once again tonight.
Whatever the make-up of the team at Deepdale, Mikel Arteta’s charges should have enough about them to secure a quarter-final spot with relatively little fuss.
Arsenal to win, 3-1.
Early Preston team news: Robbie Brady joins injury list
17:37 , George FloodPreston lost experienced Republic of Ireland winger Robbie Brady to an ankle injury during the first half of Saturday’s Championship clash with Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth, which they led 3-0 at half-time before then totally collapsing and drawing 3-3.
Brad Potts replaced him and scored off the bench at Home Park, so you’d expect him to come into Paul Heckingbottom’s starting XI tonight.
Preston have a few forwards sidelined at present including Ched Evans, Will Keane and Milutin Osmajic, the latter of whom was banned for eight matches by the FA last month for biting Blackburn’s Owen Beck.
German defender Patrick Bauer is also out, though Nottingham Forest loanee Josh Bowler could return from illness and be another candidate to fill in for Brady.
Early Arsenal team news: Mikel Arteta set to ring the changes
17:26 , George FloodAs he did against Bolton in round three, Mikel Arteta should ring the changes for Arsenal tonight - particularly with three consecutive tough away games coming up against Newcastle, Inter Milan and Chelsea.
Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are among the youngsters set to start, while there could also be another opportunity for fellow teenage academy graduate Josh Nichols at right-back.
David Raya’s deputy Neto is cup-tied, so that could lead to a debut for young summer signing Tommy Setford in goal after he missed the Bolton game injured and 16-year-old Jack Porter made history as Arsenal’s youngest-ever starter instead.
Arteta remains without the likes of captain Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney due to injury, while he had a positive update on both Gabriel and Jurrien Timber yesterday but that duo surely won’t be risked here.
William Saliba could come back into the defence though after serving his one-match suspension during Sunday’s pulsating 2-2 draw with title rivals Liverpool, while Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus should also start.
How to watch Preston vs Arsenal
17:19 , George FloodTV channel: Tonight’s game will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports+.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will also be able to watch on a live stream online via the Sky Go app.
Preston vs Arsenal live
17:17 , George FloodGood evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of Preston vs Arsenal in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
It’s more EFL opposition in store for the Gunners tonight as a no doubt much-changed side featuring a number of young hopefuls attempt to book a quarter-final spot after last month’s 5-1 demolition of third-tier Bolton at the Emirates.
Kick-off tonight is at 7:45pm GMT, and we’ll have all the latest match build-up, confirmed team news and live updates coming up.
Standard Sport’s Arsenal correspondent Simon Collings will also be providing expert analysis from Deepdale.
