Valiant hope for League One outfit
Port Vale are as big as 33/1 to topple Premier League giants Arsenal in tonight’s Carabao Cup clash.
The Staffordshire club’s last win over the Gunners in any competition came 124 years ago, taking place in the second tier in September 1901.
Vale have failed to beat the Londoners in nine attempts since (D5 L4).
From Jordan Davies at Vale Park
With the players now out warming up, the stadium announcer here at Vale Park has warned that there will be “pyrotechnics” on display just before kick off.
The League One club are going all out tonight on putting on a show! Let’s see if its worth it!
Carabao Cup 4th round draw details
The draw for the fourth round of the Carabao Cup will take place following the conclusion of Port Vale vs Arsenal.
The match at Vale Park is set to kick off at 8pm BST, meaning the draw will likely begin at around 9.45pm BST.
Should the third round tie require penalties, the draw will take place slightly later.
Will tonight’s Carabao Cup third round ties go to extra-time and penalties?
If the scoreline is level after 90 minutes, NO extra-time will be played.
The winners will be determined by a penalty shootout straight after the final whistle.
Extra-time is only used in the Carabao Cup from the second leg of the semi-finals and onwards.
Bantams set to be well backed
Bradford are set to be backed by almost 5,000 fans at St James’ Park this evening.
You have to go back almost 25 years for when the Bantams last played at the home of Newcastle United.
There’s no doubt that the Claret and Amber Army will be in fine voice on Tyneside this evening.
View of SunSport’s Jordan Davies at Vale Park
After claiming he has the most “attacking keeper in the Prem”, Mikel Arteta decides to give David Raya a rest with Kepa Arrizabalaga making his full debut for the club after his £5m summer move.
A slight surprise given Arteta is not a huge fan of rotating his goalkeepers, but he has got to give Kepa a bit of time on the pitch at some point and tonight is the night.
For once, some positive fitness news with Ben White and Bukayo Saka back starting after struggling with knee and hamstring issues respectively. This is Saka’s first start since August 23.
And after all the talk of keeping the “handbrake on” in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City last weekend, Mikel Merino keeps his place in midfield with a rare start for Ethan Nwaneri and another full debut for Christian Norgaard.
However, Eberechi Eze – left on the bench until half-time against City – is back in an intriguing-looking front three that appears to have super-sub Gabriel Martinelli playing as a No.9 with Viktor Gyokeres on the bench.
Alongside Gyokeres are a whole host of superstars in case things go awry, including Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Gabriel and of course the 15-year-old sensation Max Dowman, who could break more records should he come on.
