Arsenal return to action in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, and it represents another opportunity for silverware in a season where trophies are expected.
The trip to Port Vale may not carry the glamour of European competition or the pressure of a Premier League title race, but it is a chance to reinforce the idea that Arsenal can compete on every front.
With a squad that has been built to balance depth and quality, they cannot treat this competition as an afterthought.
Mikel Arteta was keen to stress before the game that the Carabao Cup is valuable for players pushing for minutes.
“It’s a lot of players that are going to take part who fully deserve minutes,” he said. He also pointed to Kepa Arrizabalaga as one who is certain to feature, underlining the opportunities for squad rotation.
Injuries have inevitably shaped the early weeks of Arsenal’s season. Noni Madueke has joined Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines, while Piero Hincapie and Martin Odegaard have also faced recent setbacks.
Arteta admitted the frequency of injuries has been frustrating but insisted that many of them have been “very unfortunate incidents.”
Yet this Arsenal squad has the depth to absorb absences in a way previous sides could not. Youngsters such as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are already part of the senior conversation, while experienced squad members are waiting for opportunities to impress.
For Arteta, this is the moment to test the balance of his roster.
The wider context matters too. Arsenal have not lifted the EFL Cup since 1993, a statistic that jars with their stature.
Last season’s semi-final collapse to Newcastle United showed how quickly momentum in this competition can vanish, but it also underlined the fine margins of knockout football.
That is why Wednesday’s match should not be approached as a formality. Port Vale, guided by Darren Moore, have already beaten Blackpool and Birmingham to reach this stage.
The League One side will relish the chance to host a top-flight opponent, and Arsenal cannot afford complacency.
Arteta’s men are expected to progress, but this is more than just a midweek obligation. It is an opportunity to sustain momentum, give valuable minutes to key squad players, and keep another trophy within reach.
With Liverpool setting the early pace in the league, Arsenal must ensure they stay alive in every competition available.
Winning breeds winning, and the Carabao Cup remains part of that equation.
