Arsenal secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over League One side Port Vale in the third round of the Carabao Cup, advancing to the fourth round. The win came after a recent 1-1 draw with Manchester City, with critics suggesting manager Mikel Arteta needed to 'take the handbrake off' to achieve major silverware. Despite some of these lingering narratives, Arteta's heavily rotated squad delivered a professional performance, with goals from Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard sealing the win.

Arteta made nine changes to his starting lineup for the trip to Vale Park, showcasing the immense strength and depth of his squad. Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard made their full debuts since joining in the summer, while teenagers Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly earned their first starts of the campaign. Fully-fit Bukayo Saka returned to the starting XI for the first time in nearly a month, wearing the armband before being replaced by 15-year-old Max Dowman, who made another impressive cameo.

The Gunners started on the front foot, with their pressure paying off in the eighth minute. Gabriel Martinelli, fresh from recent goal-scoring performances, picked up the ball on the left, looking inside for Eze. Myles Lewis-Skelly provided a delightful flicked assist, allowing Eze to slot the ball into the bottom corner for his first goal in Arsenal colours. Arsenal largely controlled the first half, enjoying extensive periods of possession and creating further opportunities, though Merino wasted some chances and Eze had another effort saved.

Despite Arsenal's dominance, Port Vale, sitting 19th in League One, adopted a defensive 'low-block' approach, reminiscent of Manchester City's strategy, to frustrate the visitors. The home side, celebrating their 150th anniversary, created a stunning cup-tie atmosphere at Vale Park with a near sell-out crowd of 16,326, the biggest since they hosted Liverpool in 1999. Their spirited defense held Arsenal at bay for much of the second half, with the Gunners taking until the 78th minute (or 86th minute in some reports) to double their lead. Substitute Leandro Trossard, brought on late in the game, rifled a brilliant finish into the bottom corner, assisted by a pass from William Saliba, to secure Arsenal's place in the next round.

While the scoreline was comfortable, some observers noted that Arsenal managed only four shots on target, which could fuel the 'cautious' narrative surrounding Arteta. However, the manager will undoubtedly take positives from the match, including the opportunity to rest several senior stars without incurring fresh injuries. The performance highlighted the quality of players like Cristhian Mosquera (rated 8), Ethan Nwaneri (rated 8), and Eberechi Eze (rated 8), who excelled in central attacking roles. Mikel Merino, playing as a number nine, received a lower rating (4) due to a lack of creativity and conviction in front of goal.

The sheer financial disparity between the two clubs was stark, with Arsenal's squad valued at approximately £1.14 billion compared to Port Vale's £8.8 million. This wealth of talent means phrases like 'second string' or 'B team' are almost a mockery for Arsenal, even with key players like Martin Odegaard, Piero Hincapie, and Kai Havertz injured. With the Carabao Cup representing a genuine opportunity for silverware, Arteta will be keen to add to the lone FA Cup he lifted in 2020. The team now turns its attention to a sterner test against Newcastle in the Premier League, where Arteta's tactical approach will face a more rigorous examination.