Arsenal Secures 2-0 Win Over Port Vale: Eberechi Eze Nets First Goal, Leandro Trossard Seals Victory in Carabao Cup Clash
MIKEL ARTETA has been advised to “take off the handbrake” if he aims to clinch significant trophies with Arsenal.
However, on a chilly Wednesday night in Stoke, his heavily rotated Gunners barely shifted out of third gear, with goals from Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard paving the way to the Carabao Cup fourth round against Port Vale.
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The joy from Gabriel Martinelli’s late equalizer against Manchester City swiftly diminished as analysts criticized Arteta’s overly defensive strategies, suggesting he was stuck in a conservative approach.
With merely four shots on target showcased last night, worries about his tactics will persist as they look ahead to a challenging match against Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday.
Addressing his critics, Arteta emphasized the skill and attacking capabilities of his team, implementing NINE changes for the encounter at Vale Park.
Nonetheless, the performance seemed to lack the confidence it could have had, with Eze finding the net early in the eighth minute—his first goal for Arsenal— followed by a long 78-minute wait until Trossard added another.
Despite the disruptions, Arteta will undoubtedly find numerous positives to carry back to North London.
Of course, this match was against Port Vale—currently positioned 19th in League One, with just two wins in nine games under Darren Moore, who meticulously studied City’s tactics in an attempt to replicate them with limited success.
Additionally, some Gunners supporters are likely to express discontent over Mikel Merino leading the attack again, while Viktor Gyokeres was left on the bench for an extended period.
That said, Arteta successfully provided several senior players with 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 the club over the summer, while youngsters Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly enjoyed their first starts of the season. A fully fit Bukayo Saka returned for his first appearance in nearly a month before being replaced by 15-year-old Max Dowman briefly.
This highlighted the wealth of elite options Arteta has at his disposal, not even factoring in injured trio Martin Odegaard, Piero Hincapie, and Kai Havertz, who watched the match from London, making any discussion of a ‘B team’ or ‘second string’ unworthy.
Ben White strikes the ball off Port Vale’s groundsman after he disrupts Arsenal’s warm-up with cheeky antics
Valued at approximately £1.14bn, Arsenal houses one of the world’s most esteemed squads, in stark contrast to the Valients’ squad, valued at merely £8.8m. It’s almost absurd.
Their record signing stands at £500k for Gareth Ainsworth back in 1997, whereas Saka could earn that in just a few weeks.
Despite the vast financial gap, it didn’t lessen the electrifying atmosphere at Vale Park, buzzing with cup excitement and dreams for an upset.
On the club’s 150th anniversary, nearly a full crowd of 16,326 created the largest attendance 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, which ended in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 tie, featuring a notably strong squad from Arsene Wenger, including Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira, and Marc Overmars.
Wenger’s team advanced from the spot, eventually achieving a double that season. Arteta will hope that returning to Vale Park brings about similar success, eager to add to his sole FA Cup trophy secured during his inaugural term in charge in 2020.
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At present, the Spaniard is in no position to dismiss the Carabao Cup, which now leads to an enticing fourth-round matchup.
Unlike 37 years prior, this match was never meant to go to penalties.
With some pressure from the home side, emphasized by their ardent supporters, Arsenal quickly established a dominating rhythm, controlling the match with precision.
Martinelli—who recently made his mark as a goal-scorer—was influential on the left, setting up Lewis-Skelly in the box; his flick perplexed the defense, allowing Eze to finish effortlessly.
The remainder of the first half was marked by Arsenal’s comfortable dominance, moving fluidly like a well-orchestrated practice session. Merino missed a few half-chances in the box, while Eze had another shot thwarted by Joe Gauci.
Occasional set pieces and long throws kept them alert, but Arsenal smoothly transitioned into the second half. Nwaneri sent a clever ball for Martinelli, who was stopped by Gauci’s impressive tackle.
Arteta might have preferred a less stressful finale, bringing on Gabriel and Gyokeres for bolstered security; the latter came close before Trossard sealed the match in the 86th minute.
Now, they prepare for St James’ Park, where Arteta’s tactical prudence will face a more rigorous test.
