No, I haven’t developed late onset dyslexia – and why is that particular word so hard to spell ? – it’s just an anagram and I like them ! And what’s more, it’s quite fitting because it really is high time we reset The Arsenal’s record in the (Football League) Carabao Cup.
The last time we won the competition was in 1993 in which incarnation it was known as the Coca-Cola Cup. That season’s competition ran alongside the first season of the newly formed F.A. Premier League. That’s how long it is since we won that particular trophy.
To clear the first hurdle this time we will have to literally do it on a, possibly, wet Wednesday night in Stoke. To be precise we will have to do it in Port Vale which is located about 4.3 miles (6.9 km) from Stoke City’s bet365 Stadium, making them very local rivals. Port Vale’s home stadium, Vale Park, is in the district of Burslem, if you’re driving there, one of the six towns that form Stoke-on-Trent.
In a wider context it is part of the Potteries where a teacher once told me I would never be any good at poetry because of my aforementioned late onset dyslexia. Well, so far I’ve made three beautiful vases and a jug, so up yours Mr Evans !
This 3rd Round tie is a mismatch on paper, but we will need to be careful not to fall into this particular trap as the League One strugglers, managed by Darren Moore, have already knocked out Blackpool and Birmingham City to make it this far for only their second third-round appearance in the last 16 years – although they did reach the quarter-finals in 2023-24.
The History
A look at the head-to-head record between the clubs shows that in their 22 previous meetings Arsenal have won 13, drawn 5 and Piet Vale have won 4.
Before Arsenal were promoted to the top tier of English football in 1919, the two sides frequently clashed in the old Second Division. Back in the days of Christmas Day football, three of the first five clashes between Arsenal and Port Vale – including their first-ever meeting – took place on December 25th with Arsenal winning all three. On Christmas Day 1894, Arsenal recorded their biggest victory in this head-to-head – a 7-0 drubbing at Manor Ground. Port Vale have to go back to September 1901 for their last win against the Arsenal – actually Woolwich Arsenal at that time. Since that 1-0 victory on their home soil, we have maintained a nine-game winning run against them.
The two teams have only been drawn together twice in the FA Cup since the end of the First World War, with Arsenal prevailing after replays on both occasions. In the 4th Round of the 1926-27 competition, the two sides drew 2-2 before Herbert Chapman led the Gunners to a 1-0 win in the replay. Seventy years later, in the third round of the 1997-98 FA Cup, the newly arrived Arsene Wenger saw his side – which included the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars and Ray Parlour – held to a 0-0 draw at Highbury. Port Vale then almost pulled off a huge giant killing in the replay, taking Arsenal to penalties after a 1-1 draw and extra time. The Arsenal won the shoot-out 4-3, almost a very early exit for Arsene who, of course, went on to win the competition that year and a record 7 times overall as a manager.
The Squads
It just wouldn’t be Arsenal if we didn’t end the weekend with new fitness worries – two this time to be precise. New signing Piero Hincapie, having joined and gone straight off on international duty, did not make the matchday squad on Sunday due to an unspecified problem. As we all know now, Noni Madueke was replaced at half time due to a knee injury which has now, after scans, been diagnosed as a medial ligament tear. He will be out for 6-8 weeks. Gabriel Jesus (ACL), Kai Havertz (knee) and Martin Ødegaard (shoulder) all missed the game against Man C130y but Bukayo Saka and Ben White made welcome returns to the squad. I would expect both to feature against Port Vale to build fitness and get some match practice in before the trip to St James’s Park on Sunday. Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly should also be among a number of changes.
I’ve been saying since the summer that we have to get away from the idea of first teamers and reserves as we now have comparable quality with all players throughout the squad. On that basis we could reasonably expect to see some mix and match selections across all competitions, rather than an obvious A and B team. However, just to immediately contradict myself, I would expect some key players to start on the bench and get a breather with Newcastle coming up at the weekend especially as the Geordies, while dropping points against Bournemouth, took the opportunity to rest the likes of Guimaraes and Joelinton and I believe new 6’7” striker Valdemort (sic) was withdrawn at half time. I’d be very surprised to see Max Dowman start but he could well get 20 minutes at the end if Bukayo Saka has a good hour or so.
So that would leave a team looking something like this:
Kepa;
White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly;
Nwaneri, Nørgaard, Merino;
Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
As for Port Vale, on-loan Wrexham forward Mo Faal has recovered from a hamstring injury, but Moore has problems out wide following a rash of fresh blows. Liam Gordon was forced off late on in the win over Mansfield, Mitch Clark is not yet expected to return from his unspecified issue, while Kyle John has been ruled out for the next few matches owing to a muscle injury. At this point I have to admit I know absolutely nothing about any of them or what likely effect their absences will have on the team.
And so …..
Some people may think this is only the Carabao Cup and doesn’t really matter. While it’s clearly not our top priority, I hope we will take it very seriously as the importance of winning a trophy for this team cannot be overestimated. It would be great for confidence, belief and just plain getting the first one over the line.
The game will be shown on Sky Sports in the UK. Kick off at 20.00.
If you’re driving to Port Vale for the game do take care as apparently a tanker of ready mixed concrete has crashed with a prison service van on the M6. Police are warning that there are hardened criminals on the carriageway.
Come on you Reds !
Entertaining preview as always. Cheers Trev!
Your line-up seems plausible, although somehow I expect a little deviation from it on the front line (and no, don’t ask me to be specific about it, I have no idea/expectation, just the feeling).
Nice preview Trev. I’ll be at the game, my first visit to Port Vale
TTG in the last drinks you said that Hincapie would be out for some time. Arteta in his pre match press conference said it would just be a short time.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/every-word-artetas-pre-port-vale-presser
Cheers, Trev and thanks for the preview. Hardened criminals about and it has nothing to do with the Donald?
A very informative and entertaining preview Trev. I had forgotten the close run thing in the FA Cup in ’98. Your team looks about right but I expect we will see Dowman and Eze added to the team at some point and Saka not to be asked to play the full 90 minutes. If all goes well, we may see some other youth prospects but those lower league teams can be expected to contain some axe-grinders likely to take their frustrations out on ‘fancy Dans’ from elite academies. Meanwhile, I racked my brains to find a pun from ‘vole’ but voliently failed.
Thanks Trev for an informative and amusing preview . Your team looks very reasonable – we are likely to be forced to play Gyokeres although Trossard might start in the centre upfront . Saka lacks match fitness so could start and Eze might be given a start as well. Odegaard might also figure at some stage and Max Dowman could see action too. With Madueke out , he is likely to play at some stage . The U21s won 2-1 at Newport and had a strong team with Sagoe Jr and Harriman- Annous scoring so it is unlikely that many young players will play tomorrow .
C100- I heard that Hincapie was likely to miss at least a couple of games hence my description, perhaps rather too literal of ‘ some’ time.
It’s interesting that we have had three new signings injured . One was an in- match issue, Hincapie may have picked up an injury on international duty and Norgaard was injured in training . I was wondering if one could infer that our training regime is too fierce compared with other clubs but that evidence is hardly conclusive . It’s a perplexing situation when we have so many players out so quickly.
I forgot to add that I would very much like to see Martinelli start as our central attacking option for at least 45 minutes of this game.We could start Saka for the minutes he needs to get match sharpness on his right and Trossard on his left with Nwaneri and Eze as ‘inside right and inside left’ and Nørgaard as single holding MFer. Merino, Rice, Dowman and Gyökeres and perhaps even Ødegaarrd can share a few minutes to spare legs for the weekend.
i hope we avoid the vicious vole of pgvol’s nature tomorrow, baff…
well in, trev. thanks. pretty much agree with your lineup, but would love to see sagoe and max starting on either side of gabi. also calafiori for gabriel to keep the latter fresh.
A cracker, Trev… and I, for one, am an apt lover of your title.
I’m sitting in the sun on a Greek island sipping Aperol VT, a local specialty and chuckling while enjoying your preview, Trev. Important that we win, as we’re expected to do and if we can learn something while doing so that would be a bonus. In that regard, Bath’s suggestion to play Martinelli through the middle gets two thumbs up from me. Unlikely that the local network here will cover the game so I’ll need to listen in to Adrian and Dan while enjoying another Aperol VT going down.
Ned, BtM 😉👍🏻
BtM – if you just put both thumbs up at the same time you’ve got some mopping up to do!
And thanks for the kind words, all.
Full of chuckles and a healthy reminder to us all to not take football so very seriously. Thanks Trev! 🙂
Team looks good. But I would rather we don’t start Gabriel or Saka. If Hincapie were fit he could have started in central defense, but I won’t mind seeing Calafiori there with MLS in the left back. Also, Eze to get a hour of match practice in the attacking midfield role for us, and Nwaneri instead on the right wing, leaving Saka on the bench. Then bring Dowman in later in the second half and move Nwaneri back to midfield.
BtM @ 9 : If memory serves me right there is a streaming service available throughout most of Greece to see PL, and also their satellite channel. You should be able to subscribe for a month and then cancel subscription.
For today’s match scoring a few goals would help to help the collective creativity of the team to find itself. 4-0?
Come on Arsenal!
EFL website has “Wide Media” listed as Carabao Cup broadcasters in Greece.
https://www.efl.com/how-to-watch/broadcast-partners/
Thanks Trev for your light hearted review of tonight match along with the added bonus of facts about tonight’s hosts.
It should be a comfortable victory if we approach the match in the right mentality – for sure Vale will be up for it!! I don’t think the Xl who take the field will be far from your team suggestion. I’m with Bath that this is a good opportunity to play Martinelli as striker – his pace should cause them lots of problems (bigly) – let’s hope he’s bought his shooting boots.
A good win and no further injuries will do very nicely, thank you.
COYRRR
Cheers Trev! Nice gag!
Cheers Esso ! How are you ?
A valiant effort Trev. I won’t draw a veil over the fact that the good guys from the potteries are 19th in League one, otherwise known by its proper name Division three.
Bring on the puns, SP 👍🏻
Kepa
White, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly
Norgaard, Merino, Nwaneri
Saka, Martinelli, Eze
Bench: Raya, Gabriel, Timber, Gyokeres, Trossard, Zubimendi, Calafiori, Rice, Dowman
Pretty close, Trev. 👏
The Martinelli-down-the-middle crew have got their wish.
The strength of that team, which has, what? two, perhaps three, nailed-on starters shows how deep our squad has become. Scant opportunity for the yoofs, save Dowman, who scarcely counts as a yoof anymore except by dint of his birthdate.
Job done. As boring as Sunday, but lovely goals and both the right way this time, thankfully!
Ned @20, looks like the announced line-up was misleading. Wish weren’t granted.
That was a less comfortable watch than it should have been, having scored early. But job done.
Trossard made his goal look a lot more routine than it was. Top-drawer finish.
Ollie@22. Indeed. False advertising.
Difficult to establish any sort of rhythm against hustle and bustle like that. Draw is in 20 minutes …..
Just to add, I didn’t miss VAR one jot.
Belated thanks for an amusing preview
Trev. Couldn’t see this one as I am
lodged somewhere in the Normandy
countryside but a fairly routine win by
some accounts. An early goal is always
very handy in this type of game.
>>>>>>>