Arsenal will return to one of their trickier hunting grounds on Wednesday evening as they kick off their EFL Cup journey with a third-round clash away to Port Vale.
While Mikel Arteta’s side are only just entering the competition, Port Vale have already fought their way past Blackpool and Birmingham City on the road to set up this meeting with the Premier League giants.
Sunday’s draw with Manchester City showed a different side to the Gunners. Usually criticised for being too cautious against the so-called “Big Six,” Arsenal found themselves in the unusual position of being the team under siege. Pep Guardiola’s men sat deep, ceding much of the possession, and it almost worked until Gabriel Martinelli rescued a point with a late equaliser.
Even so, a 1-1 draw felt more like two points lost than one gained, leaving Arsenal trailing early leaders Liverpool by five points in the Premier League. That frustration aside, Arsenal are expected to play with more freedom against lower-league opposition in midweek.
The Gunners have not lifted the EFL Cup since 1993, and last year’s campaign ended in a heavy semi-final defeat to Newcastle. With the Premier League and Champions League taking priority this season, the cup is not at the top of Arteta’s list. Still, an upset against Port Vale would raise fresh questions about Arsenal’s ability to turn strong performances into silverware.
For Port Vale, just reaching the third round is a cause for celebration. The League One side have pulled off two impressive wins already in this year’s competition, knocking out Blackpool and Birmingham, and they are back at this stage for only the second time in 16 years. Their last big run came just two seasons ago, when they reached the quarter-finals.
After a winless start to the League One campaign, Darren Moore’s team have finally found form at the right moment. Consecutive league victories over Exeter City and Mansfield Town have boosted morale, with Ronan Curtis slotting home a dramatic stoppage-time penalty to seal the latest triumph.
History, however, is not on Vale’s side. Their last victory over Arsenal came way back in 1901, when the Gunners were still known as Woolwich Arsenal. In their most recent meeting in the 1997-98 FA Cup, Arsenal needed a replay and a penalty shootout to scrape past their determined lower-league opponents.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
As is often the case with Arsenal, the weekend brought fresh injury worries. Piero Hincapié was left out of the squad after picking up a knock, while Noni Madueke had to come off at half-time with a knee problem. He is now awaiting scan results and joins Gabriel Jesus (ACL), Kai Havertz (knee), and Martin Ødegaard (shoulder) on the sidelines.
There was at least some good news, with Bukayo Saka and Ben White back in the squad on Sunday. White remained an unused substitute, but both players are expected to be in the mix for starting roles on Wednesday. Arteta is also likely to shuffle his pack, with youngsters Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly pushing for minutes. Max Dowman could even feature, though Saka is tipped to take his usual place on the right wing as he builds up match sharpness.
For Port Vale, Darren Moore can welcome back on-loan forward Mo Faal after a hamstring layoff. However, the manager has fresh problems on the flanks. Liam Gordon limped off late in the win over Mansfield, Mitch Clark is still a week away from returning, and Kyle John is set to miss several games with a muscle injury.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Port Vale possible starting lineup:
Gauci; Humphreys, Debrah, Heneghan; Gabriel, Croasdale, Garrity, Byers, Shorrock; Cole, Curtis
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Kepa; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Nwaneri, Norgaard, Merino; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Port Vale 0-3 Arsenal
