Arsenal Secures 2-0 Win Over Port Vale: Eberechi Eze Nets First Goal, Leandro Trossard Wraps Up with Flair in Carabao Cup Clash
MIKEL ARTETA has been cautioned to “take off the handbrake” if he aims for significant trophies with Arsenal.
However, on a chilly Wednesday evening in Stoke, his largely rotated team remained in third gear. Goals from Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard secured a place in the Carabao Cup fourth round against Port Vale.
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The excitement from Gabriel Martinelli’s last-minute equalizer against Manchester City quickly diminished as critics pointed out Arteta’s overly defensive strategies, which seemed to reflect a conservative mindset.
With just four shots on target recorded last night, concerns about his tactics will continue as they prepare for a Premier League clash at Newcastle on Sunday.
In response to his critics, Arteta emphasized the skill and attacking capability of his squad, making NINE changes for the match against Vale Park.
However, the performance lacked the assurance it could have displayed, with Eze scoring in the eighth minute—his first goal for Arsenal—followed by a long wait of 78 minutes until Trossard finally added the second.
Despite the distractions, Arteta will surely find many positives to take back to North London.
Admittedly, this match was against Port Vale—currently sitting at 19th in League One, with two victories from nine games under manager Darren Moore, who closely examined City’s tactics and aimed to replicate them, albeit with limited success.
Additionally, some Gunners fans may express frustration over Mikel Merino leading the attack again while Viktor Gyokeres was left on the bench for most of the match.
That said, Arteta successfully offered several senior players much-needed rest, leaving Staffordshire without any new injury worries.
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Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard made their first starts since joining in the summer, while young talents Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly received their first starts of the season. A fully-fit Bukayo Saka made his return after nearly a month, before being substituted for a brief appearance by 15-year-old Max Dowman.
This further highlighted the wealth of top-tier options Arteta possesses, not even accounting for the injured trio of Martin Odegaard, Piero Hincapie, and Kai Havertz, who watched the match from London, rendering any discussions of a ‘B team’ or ‘second string’ insignificant.
Ben White strikes the ball off Port Vale groundsman after he disrupts Arsenal’s warm-up with cheeky antics
Valued at approximately £1.14bn, Arsenal has one of the world’s most esteemed squads, in stark contrast to the Valients’ squad, worth around £8.8m. The difference is almost absurd.
Their record signing stands at £500k for Gareth Ainsworth back in 1997, while Saka could earn that amount in just a few weeks.
Despite the considerable financial gap, it didn’t reduce the electrifying atmosphere at Vale Park, alive with cup excitement and hopes for an upset.
On the club’s 150th anniversary, a nearly full house of 16,326 created the largest turnout since facing Liverpool in the FA Cup back in 1999.
Moreover, the last time Arsenal visited Vale Park was for an FA Cup third-round replay in 1998, ending in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw, featuring a notably strong team from Arsene Wenger, including Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira, and Marc Overmars.
Wenger’s side advanced from the spot and went on to achieve a double that season. Arteta will hope that returning to Vale Park brings similar fortunes, eager to add to his lone FA Cup trophy secured during his first term in charge in 2020.
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At present, the Spaniard is in no position to overlook the Carabao Cup, leading to an exciting fourth-round matchup.
Unlike 37 years ago, this match was never destined for a penalty shootout.
After some tense moments from the hosts, amplified by their enthusiastic support, Arsenal soon settled into a dominant rhythm, controlling the match effectively.
Martinelli—who recently established himself as a goal-scorer—made an impact on the left, assisting Lewis-Skelly in the box; his flick confused the defense, allowing Eze to comfortably finish.
The rest of the first half was characterized by Arsenal’s comfortable dominance, moving fluidly like a well-rehearsed practice session. Merino missed a few half-chances in the box, while Eze had another shot saved by Joe Gauci.
Occasional set pieces and long throws kept them alert, but Arsenal transitioned smoothly into the second half. Nwaneri provided a clever ball for Martinelli, who was halted by Gauci’s impressive tackle.
Arteta may have preferred a less nail-biting finish, bringing on Gabriel and Gyokeres for added assurance; the latter came close before Trossard sealed the result in the 86th minute.
Now, they prepare for St James’ Park, where Arteta’s strategic caution will face a more rigorous test.
