AfriPulse
Arsenal have advanced to the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 2-0 win over Port Vale on Wednesday night.
Eberechi Eze scored his first goal for the club before Leandro Trossard sealed the win late on at Vale Park.
Questions over Arsenal’s caution
The buzz from Gabriel Martinelli’s late equaliser against Manchester City at the weekend was dampened by continued criticism that Arteta’s approach is too conservative.
Wednesday’s display, with just four shots on target, did little to silence that narrative ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle.
Eze opened his goal account for Arsenal in the game – Getty image
Arteta rotated heavily, making nine changes, but his side still lacked fluidity despite Eze’s eighth-minute opener, his first goal for the club, before Trossard sealed the result late on.
Vale’s resilience vs Arsenal’s squad depth
Port Vale, 19th in League One, frustrated the visitors for long spells, but Arteta managed to rest key names and avoid fresh injuries.
New signings Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard made full debuts, teenagers Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly started, and Bukayo Saka returned to the XI for the first time in nearly a month.
Even 15-year-old Max Dowman also featured, pointing to the depth Arteta can call upon despite injuries to Martin Odegaard, Piero Hincapie and Kai Havertz.
A David vs Goliath contest
Financially, the gulf was stark, Arsenal’s squad is valued at around £1.14bn compared to Vale’s £8.8m, but Vale Park delivered a spirited atmosphere.
The near sell-out crowd of 16,326 marked the club’s 150th anniversary, recalling memories of past upsets and their 1998 FA Cup clash with Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal.
Routine finish for the Gunners
Eze’s early strike gave Arsenal control, with Martinelli lively down the left and Lewis-Skelly linking play well.
Port Vale’s few chances came from set-pieces, but Arsenal managed the game comfortably.
Arteta introduced Gabriel and Viktor Gyokeres late on to steady proceedings before Trossard’s composed finish in the 86th minute killed off any hopes of an upset.
Focus shifts to Newcastle
The win keeps Arsenal alive in the Carabao Cup, a competition Arteta cannot afford to dismiss.
But attention now turns to St James’ Park, where his “handbrake” approach will face a sterner test.
Source: Gistreel | Read the Full Story…
