Port Vale vs Arsenal: Preview , Preview, Lineups, H2h for September 25, 2025

In the 1/16 finals of the English League Cup, Port Vale will meet Arsenal on Wednesday, 24 September, with the kickoff at 21:00 Central European Time. This preview focuses on the scoring potential of the match.

Match Preview

Port Vale is currently in League One for the 2025/26 season after returning to this level of English football. They have struggled recently, winning only two of their first nine league games, placing them 19th with 8 points.

However, Port Vale showed improvement in their last matches, securing a 2-1 win against Mansfield Town and a victory over Exeter City, raising hopes for better performance.

In the League Cup, Port Vale has performed well, defeating Blackpool and Birmingham City. The win against Birmingham was significant, as it marked their first away victory against a Championship team in 15 years.

In those games, Port Vale demonstrated strong defense and effective counter-attacks, which were key to their success. Against Arsenal, they will aim to leverage their home advantage and keep a solid defensive shape to contain the visitors’ offensive threats.

Arsenal is pursuing the Premier League title this season. They have achieved three wins in their first five matches, with one loss to Liverpool and one draw against Manchester City, placing them second in the standings with 10 points.

In their recent match against Manchester City, Arsenal managed to score a last-minute equalizer, with Martinelli finding the net from outside the box.

Arsenal also started well in the Champions League, winning against Spanish side Athletic on the road. They aim to perform better in the League Cup this year after being eliminated by Newcastle in the semi-finals last season.

Arteta is likely to rotate his squad for this match, giving playing time to some squad players. Arsenal will look to control the game and use their offensive strength to secure a win and advance to the next round.

Match Facts

• Port Vale has won three of their last four matches.
• Arsenal has lost only one of their last nine games.
• Port Vale averages 0.7 goals per home game; Arsenal averages 1.5 goals per away game.

Probable Lineups

• Port Vale: Gauci, Hall, Debrah, Humphreys, Gordon, Gabriel, Croasdale, Garrity, Byers, Paton, Cole.
• Arsenal: Kepa, White, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Hincapié, Nwaneri, Nørgaard, Eze, Madueke, Trossard, Martinelli.

H2H

The teams have not faced each other before.

Prediction

Considering the current form of both teams, Arsenal is expected to take charge in attack, while Port Vale will prioritize defending and counterattacks. A victory for Arsenal seems likely, and a bet on the hosts scoring fewer than 0.5 goals is advisable.