Arsenal seldom had to escape second gear on Wednesday evening as they powered past Championship outfit Preston North End in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
The Gunners eased to a 3-0 victory at Deepdale courtesy of a clinical and dominant display, with Mikel Arteta even offered the opportunity to rest an array of his premium talents such as Declan Rice and David Raya.
The quarter-final now awaits for Arsenal, who will be eyeing their first major silverware since the FA Cup in 2019/20. Arteta now has a contingent of back-up options capable of dazzling when called upon and many of them stepped up against Preston.
The construction of Ethan Nwaneri’s statue outside of the Emirates Stadium is already in the planning phase. The sensational 17-year-old had wowed a joyous Arsenal crowd in the third round after bagging a brace against Bolton Wanderers and his stock rose further in Lancashire midweek.
Jakub Kiwior’s Arsenal career has been littered with sub-par displays, with the Polish defender notably putting in a defensive disaster-class in the recent 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth after being drafted in to fill William Saliba’s shoes.
Arsenal have ruled out Jesus’ exit amid interest from former club Palmeiras and this was evidence of what the 27-year-old can still offer, even as a bit-part player behind Havertz in the pecking order.
