Eberechi Eze described his first goal for Arsenal as “very special” after it propelled the Gunners into round four of the EFL Cup.
Eze came off the bench last Sunday to help rescue a point for Arsenal against Manchester City, his superb assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s injury-time leveller earning a 1-1 draw.
And the England forward made his mark again on Wednesday as Arsenal saw off League One Port Vale 2-0 at Vale Park.
The Gunners needed only eight minutes to break the deadlock, Eze slotting home after Myles Lewis-Skelly flicked Martinelli’s pass into his path.
Leandro Trossard made sure Arsenal avoided an upset when he doubled their lead four minutes from time, with the Gunners set to host Brighton and Hove Albion in the next round.
Asked about opening his account for the club, Eze, who joined in a deal worth £60m from Crystal Palace in August, told Sky Sports: “Very special. I’ve been waiting to score for this club for a long time and the first is very special.
“It’s a very difficult place to come. It’s important we got the first goal and we could move forward.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta felt Eze could have had a hat-trick, the 27-year-old denied a second in the 36th minute by a strong Joe Gauci save.
“That’s why we got him for, to win football matches. He should have scored another two I think,” Arteta said.
Arteta withdrew Bukayo Saka after 63 minutes, that decision clearly made with one eye on Sunday’s daunting away trip to Newcastle United.
“We wanted to play him maximum 60 minutes,” Arteta added. “He comes from a big injury again and we need to manage his minutes.”
