Eberechi Eze scored his first goal for Arsenal in a 2-0 win at Port Vale in the English League Cup on Wednesday, while Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham also beat third-tier opponents to advance to the last 16.
Making his fifth appearance for his boyhood team following a summer move from Crystal Palace, Eze stroked home a cool finish in the eighth minute after running onto Myles Lewis-Skelly’s deft flick. Leandro Trossard added the second in the 86th.
Arsenal fielded a heavily rotated team for a competition that likely ranks lowest on its list of priorities this season, even if manager Mikel Arteta is under increasing pressure to win the club’s first major trophy since 2020.
Pep Guardiola did the same with Man City, yet started Phil Foden and saw the England midfielder score the first goal from outside the area and set up the second for Savinho in a 2-0 win at Huddersfield.
Joao Palhinha’s overhead kick was the highlight of Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Doncaster, and both Joelinton and William Osula scored twice for defending champion Newcastle in its 4-1 home win over Bradford.
The draw for the last 16 was made after the games and Newcastle will continue its title defense at home to Tottenham in one of four all-Premier League matchups, along with Arsenal-Brighton, Liverpool-Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton-Chelsea.
Wrexham, the globally popular second-tier team co-owned by "Deadpool" actor Ryan Reynolds, will play Welsh rival Cardiff at home and another team from Wales, Swansea, was drawn to play Man City.
Arsenal vs. Brighton
Grimsby Town vs. Brentford
Swansea vs. Manchester City
Newcastle vs. Tottenham
Wrexham vs. Cardiff
Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace
Wolverhampton vs. Chelsea
Wycombe vs. Fulham
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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