Arsenal vs Preston player ratings: 9/10 masterclass from starlet puts pressure on Arteta

Arsenal cruised into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 win over Preston North End.

The Gunners took control from the start at Deepdale, taking the lead when Gabriel Jesus smashed home Jakub Kiwior’s knockdown for his first goal since January. Ethan Nwaneri then produced a moment of magic, curling in a stunning effort from the edge of the box.

Substitute Kai Havertz added a third with a powerful header before the hour mark to seal the victory. Here’s how the players ratings have come in following the routine victory

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Tommy Setford: The 18 year old had a comfortable debut, with little to do in terms of saves and decent distribution. 7.

Jurrien Timber: He made some good forward runs down the right flank, although his final ball to Raheem Sterling was slightly off on two occasions. 7.

William Saliba: The Frenchman made a steady return to the side. It was somewhat surprising to see him play as many minutes as he did, but Arteta clearly wanted a strong line-up. 7.

Jakub Kiwior: The centre-back provided two assists. His second assist for Havertz was particularly impressive, coming from a superb cross. He was also solid defensively. 8.

Oleksandr Zinchenko: The Ukrainian has had a difficult few weeks, but he put in a solid performance at Preston. He inverted well, was secure in possession and created several overloads down the left. 7.

Jorginho: The Italian made the match look like a walk in the park, effortlessly leading the midfield and boosting his chances for more first team action. 7.

Ethan Nwaneri: The 17 year old prodigy is simply outstanding for his age. His goal showcased the kind of main character energy that seasoned pros at the top of their game possess. Absolutely brilliant. 9.

Mikel Merino: A solid performance from the Spaniard, nearly assisting Nwaneri and guiding the young player throughout the match. 7.

Raheem Sterling: Despite his bright attacking play and creating opportunities for his teammates, it just wasn’t his night to score. His defensive work was a bit lax at times. 7.

Gabriel Jesus: He desperately needed that goal and celebrated as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. His movement throughout the match was excellent. 8.

Gabriel Martinelli: It was a quiet night for the Brazilian who took a hit in the first half but continued to fight hard. He might have hoped for a goal against this opposition. 6.

SUBSTITUTES

Kai Havertz: Scored a fantastic header, something he’s been doing regularly since finding his scoring form again. 8.

Thomas Partey: Preston initially found some success down his side after he came on at right back, but he managed to tighten up as the game went on. 6.

Bukayo Saka: The young star was as energetic as ever on the right flank when he came on, despite recent hamstring issues. 7.

Myles Lewis-Skelly: Another impressive brief appearance from Lewis-Skelly. He defended a potentially dangerous moment in front of his own goal with composure and demonstrated his adaptability by moving into midfield. 7.

Ayden Heaven: Entered the game too late to be rated. n/a.