Arsenal’s journey in the 2025/26 EFL Cup begins on Wednesday night as Mikel Arteta’s side travel to League One outfit Port Vale in the third round. While the Gunners enter the competition fresh, the hosts have already knocked out Blackpool and Birmingham City to earn their shot at one of England’s giants.
Fresh from a tense 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the weekend in the Premier League, Arsenal will be eager to rediscover their attacking spark. Pep Guardiola’s men surprisingly adopted a defensive stance at the Emirates, recording just 32.8% possession the lowest of any Guardiola side in his managerial career. Yet despite dominating the ball, Arsenal needed a late lobbed equaliser from Gabriel Martinelli to avoid defeat, leaving them five points adrift of early leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table.
The EFL Cup has not been kind to Arsenal in recent years, with their last triumph dating back to 1993. Last season ended in a bruising 4-0 semi-final defeat to Newcastle, and while league and European ambitions are the real priorities this term, Arteta will be wary of the criticism that could follow any slip-up against lower-league opposition, according to Softfootball in the game’s preview. Arsenal, of course, are heavy favourites and, barring a major shock, are expected to make light work of this.
Arsenal’s official starting XI according to the team’s official X account:
For Port Vale, this tie represents another chance to extend a memorable cup run. Darren Moore’s side endured a torrid start to their League One campaign, failing to win any of their first seven matches. But two cup wins on the road and back-to-back league victories capped by Ronan Curtis’ dramatic 95th-minute penalty against Mansfield have breathed fresh life into their season.
Arsenal posted a video of the team arriving via their official X handle.
Watch the video below:
Team news offers a mixed picture for both sides. Arsenal are without Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard, and Noni Madueke but welcome Bukayo Saka and Ben White back into the starting XI. Port Vale, meanwhile, are boosted by Mo Faal’s return from injury but remain short on wide options, with Liam Gordon, Mitch Clark, and Kyle John all sidelined.
History heavily favours the Gunners, yet Port Vale will hope home advantage and recent momentum give them the platform to spring a shock.
