Wednesday evening will see Port Vale host Premier League side Arsenal, under the lights at Vale Park in Carabao Cup Round Three.
The Valiants come into this huge cup tie following late drama on home soil at the weekend. A Ronan Curtis penalty deep into second-half stoppage time ensured Darren Moore's men took home all three points against Mansfield Town.
Devante Cole had given Vale the lead in the second half, but 10-man Mansfield equalised with minutes to play. Five minutes into stoppage time, Curtis was fouled inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. The attacker converted past the keeper and sent Vale Park into pandemonium.
Post-Mansfield Thoughts
The Gaffer’s reaction to the Mansfield victory:
“We're pleased to get the three points. It was probably a little bit shoddy from our point of view for getting the three points.
“Come the end, three great points and three vital points, back-to-back wins and six points out of the last two league games gives us a bit of momentum.”
Press Conference Takeaways
Captain Ben Garrity gave his thoughts on Wednesday's big clash:
“It's an honour really [to captain the side]. We get the chance to go toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in Europe, so it’ll be interesting and we’re not there to make up the numbers.
“It’s 11 players against another 11 players - regardless of them being top players, we’re good players as well. You’ve seen Grimsby, they beat [Manchester] United, and I don’t see why we can’t go and the do the same thing they did”.
Darren Moore also gave his views on the game, saying:
“Now we’ve approached the game, it’s a wonderful game for us all connected at the football club. For us to be going into a cup tie against one of the renowned names in the football world is a wonderful occasion.
“You’re playing a team that’s looking to be one of the front runners to win the Premier League. It’s a cup match, a one-off game, and the players get to pit their wits against the very elite.”
Our opponents
Arsenal are located in the London Borough of Islington, which is situated around three hours south of Vale Park. The Gunners have been in top division of English football ever since the 1919/20 season. Since its revamp into the Premier League, Arsenal have been crowned league champions three times, with all of these coming under the guidance of legendary manager Arsene Wenger.
Most famously, Arsenal are the only team in Premier League history to go a full season without losing a game, earning the title of ‘The Invincibles’ in the 2003/04 season. The North London outfit also hold the record for the most FA Cup titles with 14, one ahead of Manchester United, and have won this competition on two occasions.
Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Liverpool. Their only defeat of the season came against the Merseysiders, whilst Arteta’s men picked up an away win at Manchester United and comfortable home wins against both Leeds United and Nottingham Forest. They come into this game off the back of a 1-1 draw with fellow title-chasers Manchester City, where a Gabriel Martinelli goal in stoppage time earnt them a valuable point.
The Away Dugout
Mikel Arteta is the man in charge at Arsenal. The Spaniard has managed 295 games so far in his time at Arsenal, winning the FA Cup and two Community Shields. Before his move to the Gunners, Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City for three years. He was part of the coaching staff that delivered back-to-back Premier League titles for City in 2018 and 2019.
Before becoming a manager, Arteta had a 17-year playing career. He spent his youth days playing for FC Barcelona before making a permanent move to Rangers, where he won the Scottish Premiership. Mikel eventually found himself playing in the Premier League with Everton and lastly, his current employers before retiring in 2017. During his time at Arsenal as a player, the ex-midfielder won two FA Cup titles.
Player to Watch
Arsenal have an abundance of talent in their squad, but one player that jumps out from their list of stars is Bukayo Saka. The attacker has been one of Arsenal's most important players in recent years and was the club's top goal contributor last season with 16. The Englishman has scored one goal this season, which was against Leeds, and recently returned from injury. Could Arteta give him more minutes on Wednesday as he bids to return to full match fitness?
Fixture Throwback
Port Vale 1-1 Arsenal, 14th January 1998
Following a 0-0 draw at Highbury - a game which the Vale might well have won - John Rudge’s Valiants hosted Arsenal in an FA Cup Third Round replay at Vale Park.
Arsenal’s team featured some huge footballing names with the likes of David Seaman, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright all starting in Burslem. The game once again finished 0-0, meaning that extra-time was required to find a winner.
Arsenal took the lead in the 100th minute of the game thanks to a sumptuous Bergkamp strike from outside the box that looped over the Vale keeper. The Valiants hit back shortly after though, after Wayne Cordon volleyed home a Gareth Ainsworth cross, leaving Seaman no chance and sending Vale Park into raptures.
Unfortunately, Rudge’s side were eventually defeated on penalties, but Vale went toe-to-toe with a Premier League side on two occasions and could leave Vale Park with their heads held high that evening. Arsenal went on to lift not only the FA Cup, but also the Premier League trophy that season.
