Arsenal need to hand attacker a much-needed start against Port Vale in the Carabao Cup - Opinion

Arsenal head to Vale Park on Wednesday evening as they look to progress to the next round of the Carabao Cup. The Gunners will go through to the fourth round if they are able to see off the Valiants. Mikel Arteta’s side are sat in 2nd place in the Premier League table behind Liverpool.

They drew 1-1 at home to Manchester City last time out in the league on Sunday afternoon. The London outfit fell behind in the first half after Erling Haaland’s goal. However, they equalised at the death through winger Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal should hand Ethan Nwaneri minutes against Port Vale

Arsenal have the chance to freshen up their starting XI against Port Vale and give some fringe players and youngsters the opportunity to show what they can do. One individual who will fancy his chances of some minutes is winger Ethan Nwaneri. The 18-year-old is usually used off the bench by Arteta but should get the nod against the Valiants.

Nwaneri, who is an England youth international, has a bright future ahead of him in the game and will benefit from getting as much experience under his belt as possible. The teenager has risen up through the Gunners’ academy ranks and was a regular for them at various different youth levels before breaking into the first-team picture. He has made 41 appearances in all competitions for the senior team to date and has scored nine goals, all of which came in the last campaign.

Will Arsenal start Ethan Nwaneri against Port Vale?

Nwaneri faces competition to get into Arsenal’s starting XI from the likes of Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Leandro Trossard. However, he has proved to be a useful player to bring on in games and gives Arteta’s side something different to call upon. He is still young and has bags of potential to grow and develop down the line.

He was even compared to Lionel Messi earlier this year by pundit Joe Cole. He said on TNT Sports: "You can't mark him because he can go both ways. These little touches he produces in and around the box, I don't even want to say it but it's like Messi. I've said it.

"I'm not trying to put any more pressure on the kid's shoulders, even though I'm sure he'd deal with it, but the touches he makes as he receives the ball off the back foot, entices the defender and the touch off the top of the toe to put them off balance. He plays with such confidence and he's a beautiful player. Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have to protect him."

The Gunners’ upcoming opponents were promoted from League Two last term along with Doncaster Rovers, AFC Wimbledon and Bradford City. They are managed by ex-West Brom, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town man Darren Moore. The Valiants have endured a tough start to life in League One and have won only two of their first nine league fixtures.

They are sat in 19th position but have enjoyed a decent run so far in the Carabao Cup. The Burslem-based team will be in for a tough test against Arsenal though and they will need to be at their best to get something, regardless of whether Arteta rings the changes.