Arsenal Fans Send Eberechi Eze Message to Mikel Arteta After POTM Performance and First Goal vs Port Vale

Eberechi Eze scored his first goal for Arsenal on Wednesday night to help inspire a 2-0 win at Port Vale in the Carabao Cup.

This was only Eze’s fifth appearance for the Gunners since he signed from Crystal Palace in a £67.5 million deal in August. The 27-year-old was Arsenal’s most expensive signing in a summer that saw them spend £267m overall in what was a record-breaking transfer window for Premier League clubs.

Player of the Match

Eze ran the show at Vale Park on Wednesday after starting the match in a central No 10 role, having spent most of his earlier Arsenal appearances on the left wing.

During his 81 minutes on the pitch, he touched the ball 55 times, playing 43 passes and firing in two shots – both of which hit the target.

Without the ball, Eze played a key role in Arsenal’s press, making more tackles (three) than any of his teammates.

Eze’s impressive performance earned him the Player of the Match award. Arsenal confirmed this with a celebratory tweet that read: “A night he won’t forget. Eberechi Eze is your Player of the Match”.

Fans react after Eberechi Eze’s first Arsenal goal

Responding to Arsenal’s tweet, one fan wrote: “MOTM and deserved, I beg we start him this weekend”.

Multiple other Gunners supporters added that they hoped manager Mikel Arteta would now be persuaded to start Eze in the No 10 position away at Newcastle on Sunday.

“The difference it makes when Eze starts in a central attacking role,” read another message. “Hope Arteta pays attention from now on”.

A tweet from a different fan declared: “The #10 Aura is back!”

Meanwhile, a much longer message from a fourth supporter read: “Eze has the ability to break down defences, with a style of play that’s incredibly elegant. He’s also highly effective when it comes to scoring goals. Fans are never bored when he has the ball at his feet”.

Mikel Arteta on Eze: “That is why he is here”

Gunners boss Arteta spoke about Eze during his post-match interview with Sky Sports on Wednesday.

Arteta said: “That is why he is here, to win football matches and generate impact with creativity and threat.

“He should have scored another two I think. He’s a player that needs to be in touch with the ball and we’ll find different ways of doing that.”

Eze reacts to “very special” moment

Discussing his first Gunners goal, Eze told Sky Sports: “It is very special. Something I’ve been working towards for a long time.

“It’s a difficult place to come, solid team, it’s important to get a first goal and move forwards.

“There is a lot of depth in the squad, special players coming off the bench who can bring fresh energy.”

What’s next for Arsenal?

After ending September with a Premier League trip to Newcastle on Sunday, Arsenal will return to the Champions League next week when they host Olympiakos.

Meanwhile, their next Carabao Cup fixture will take place in the week commencing October 27.

The Carabao Cup last 16 draw took place after Arsenal’s victory at Vale. The Gunners will face Brighton & Hove Albion at home.

Carabao Cup round four draw in full

• Arsenal vs Brighton
• Grimsby Town vs Brentford
• Swansea City vs Manchester City
• Newcastle United vs Tottenham
• Wrexham vs Cardiff City
• Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
• Wolves vs Chelsea
• Wycombe vs Fulham

All matches to be played in the week of October 27. Ties will go straight to penalties if level after normal time.