Well, what an incident-packed game that was!

The right team eventually won. A 96-minute winner from Gabriel as he rose up amongst the crowd to nod in. But it was a game filled with continuous decisions, and Newcastle fans are licking their wounds this morning, playing the victims.

Viktor Gyokeres penalty

In normal time, no one was in doubt – it was a penalty. But then VAR got involved, slowed everything down, zoomed in and re-referred the decision.

The technology showed that the ball nicked Nick Pope’s outstretched foot, and this was deemed enough to cancel the penalty. But was it really?

A case was made that “Pope won the ball”. But he did not. Just because the ball nicks off you, it does not mean you won it. Gyokeres won the ball, knocked it past Pope, with the ball glancing off him, before going over the keeper’s knee.

And just because Pope touched the ball, does not mean it is not a penalty. Do not believe me? Just ask Premier League referees’ chief Howard Webb, speaking after a penalty was given to Brighton last season after William Saliba headed the ball away and then clashed heads with Joao Pedro: “That touch on the ball doesn’t negate the possible award of a penalty”.

And this is the issue fans have. The lack of consistency in the decision making.

Just last week, we saw Robert Sanchez win the ball cleanly before clattering into Bryan Mbeumo. The decision was a red card to the Chelsea keeper. So why did winning the ball mean nothing last weekend, and touching the ball mean everything over the weekend?

Joe Hart (who is becoming a brilliant pundit when looking at goal keepers) tried to explain on BBC the difference between Sanchez and Pope, and it does make some sense:

“There’s definite contact [on the ball].

“But that’s not the most important point. As Pope plants his foot, he’s deemed not to be using a forward motion towards Gyokeres. Therefore, as Gyokeres’ knee clashes into Pope’s knee, it is just seen as a clash of bodies. It’s not Pope taking him out. It’s not a foul. Not a penalty.”

I get Joe Hart’s argument. And for me had the penalty not been given by the onfield ref, it would have been justification to not overturn the decision. But VAR was bought in for clear and obvious decisions. And it would be an opinion that Pope’s forward momentum had stopped – his foot might have been planted by his knee and leg was still moving forward. Therefore, I am not sure it was a clear and obvious error by the referee.

The penalty should have been given to Arsenal.

Nick Woltemade

For Newcastle’s opener, Gabriel went down under contact from goalscorer Nick Woltemade. For me, the Brazilian was being soft. He felt contact and went down instead of staying strong and challenge for the ball.

Note for his goal there was plenty of contact on Gabriel, but he stayed strong and nodded it in. I am not sure why he did not do similar yesterday. And he has done this in the past.

If slightly out of position, Gabriel does have a tendency to try and win the free kick instead of challenge for the ball. He needs to be reminded that even just challenging for the ball may be enough to put off the striker. By flopping to the floor he gives his opponent a free header.

Goal was rightly given.

Gabriel and Nick Woltemade clash

A lot has been made from Newcastle fans around the clash between Gabriel and Woltemade shortly after his goal, with many claiming the match winner should have been sent off.

Recent history between the two teams has seen similar incidents committed by both Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton. I am not sure how Newcastle fans can call for Gabriel to have been sent off in this incident, whilst backing their players in similar incidents and labelling them as “soft Southern softies don’t like it up them”.

A similar incident also happened later in the game Gyokeres nearly had his face ripped off by Jamaal Lascelles.

Ref correct to take no action.

Gabriel handball non-pentalty

Another incident that the Geordie faithful, and many opposing fans, have jumped on to highlight Arsenal get favourable decisions from the PGMOL.

In the closing stages, Gabriel went to ground in a challenge, the shot ricocheted off his shin and into his arm.

Everyone knows that in the Premier League, if the ball comes off your own body and hits your hand, it is no longer handball, regardless of what position your arm is in. So the referee rightly waved away the Newcastle claims.

What this shows is just how many online football “experts”, with hundreds of thousands of followers, do not actually know the rules. either that or they just have zero opinion on anything themselves and just jump on trends for content. It is likely both.

Newcastle fans do not know the rules. Football social media bods just jump on it for content and to earn a few quid.

Ultimately, the referee got it right.

Gyokeres and Jamaal Lascelles clash

The referee showed his consistency (finally) by judging the Gyokeres and Lascelles incident in the same manner as the Gabriel and Woltemade.

Had the ref punished Gabriel, Lascelles would have recieved the same punishment.

No Arsenal fan is screaming for Lascelles to have been sent off. But also no Newcastle fan is saying he should have been given his marching orders, despite the claim against Gabriel.

No action needed.

William Saliba blocking Pope for Gabriel’s goal

Like Gabriel had to be stronger for Woltemade’s opener, Pope had to be stronger against Saliba.

Joe Hart had it spot on in punditry by saying your 6ft 6in keeper needs to be moving the centre back out of the way. And if he is unable to do so then questions need to be asked.

Conclusion

Ref basically got every decision right. I would however question whether the arsenal penalty decision was enough of an error to be clear and obvious. And that just leads to inconsistency.

My final thought is it is interesting that VAR could not conclusively judge Mo Salah had handled the ball, but could conclusively judge that Pope had touched the ball. More inconsistency.

Keenos

Arsenal overcame a spirited Port Vale side to book their place in the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 2–0 victory at Vale Park. Goals from summer signing Eberechi Eze and substitute Leandro Trossard proved decisive, though the hosts pushed Mikel Arteta’s side harder than the scoreline suggests.

Early breakthrough

Arsenal wasted little time asserting their superiority. On eight minutes, Gabriel Martinelli worked space down the left and drilled a ball across goal. It fell kindly for Eze, who calmly slotted home his first goal for the club since joining from Crystal Palace.

That early strike hinted at a long night for Darren Moore’s men, but to their credit Port Vale regrouped quickly. Arsenal dominated possession – at times nearing 80 percent – but struggled to create further clear chances before the interval. The League One side sat deep, denied space between the lines, and forced Arsenal into patient but predictable passing.

Vale grow into the game

The second half brought greater ambition from the hosts. A misplaced pass from Arsenal defender Christhian Mosquera handed Vale midfielder Rhys Walters a half-chance, only for the visitors to scramble clear. Soon after, Devante Cole tried his luck from distance, his effort whistling over the crossbar and briefly lifting the home crowd.

Despite these moments, Arsenal remained largely in control. William Saliba marshalled the back line with authority, while Eze linked play intelligently in midfield. Yet the longer the game stayed at 1–0, the more belief Vale carried that they could nick something.

Trossard settles it late

The contest was finally put to bed four minutes from time. Saliba launched a long ball into the inside-left channel, where Trossard timed his run to perfection. Collecting in stride, the Belgian cut inside and drilled a low finish past Joe Gauci into the far corner. Vale protested for offside, but with no VAR in operation the goal stood.

That strike deflated the hosts and ensured Arsenal’s passage into the next round, where they will meet Brighton.

Standout performers

For Arsenal, Eze’s composed finish and assured display were hugely encouraging signs. Arteta later described the 26-year-old as “a player who will give us so much more” in the months ahead. Saliba, too, was excellent, snuffing out Vale’s sporadic counter-attacks with calm efficiency.

Port Vale could take heart from their defensive organisation and commitment. Walters impressed in midfield with his energy and composure, while goalkeeper Gauci made several solid interventions to keep his side in contention until the final minutes.

Verdict

For Arsenal, this was a professional performance rather than a dazzling one. They controlled the tempo, limited risks, and relied on individual quality to make the difference. For Port Vale, it was a night to savour despite defeat: they held one of England’s elite at bay for long stretches and showed resilience and pride in front of a raucous home crowd.

In the end, class told. Arsenal march on, but Vale depart with credit and encouragement as their focus returns to the League One campaign.

DJ

Tonight we will witness the strength in depth assembled by Mikel Arteta, Andrea Berta et al with the gaffer set to ring the changes for the League Cup game against Port Vale.

Usually, we would see a 50/50 team put out, with half the team being first teamers and the other half the back up dancers and youth. But such is the raising of the ceiling over the summer, many of those back up dancers would now be good enough to be first team regulars for us.

Even with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke injured, we could well still see Arteta make 11 changes to the XI that started at home against Manchester City.

In goal will be Kepa, making his debut. I still find it incredible that we have a keeper of his quality as our second choice. He would walk into 60% of Premier League sides, including his former club Chelsea.

Ben White is in line for a return at right back. After playing so long through injury, he has had an extended rest as he has been given the time to recuperate. His return is timely with Jurrien Timbder now being reported as suffering from a couple of minor problems. It will be good to have the pair back in tandem allowing us to keep them fresh.

Returning at centre back will be Cristhian Mosquera. The new boy has already shown that he is a more than able deputy for William Saliba and, at just 21, there must be a feeling that if Saliba does not sign a new deal then we are ready to cash in on him.

Piero Hincapie was a surprise omission from the Manchester City squad, ruled out with a groin injury. It is still not clear how serious this injury is, but I would be surprised if he is ready to start v Port Vale.

Last night against Newport County, highly rated teenager Marli Salmon played 90 minutes so we do not expect him to be involved tonight. That probably means either William Saliba or Gabriel will start. My money will be on the Brazilian, considering Saliba only returned from injury against City. Sadly that means it will not be a whole new XI…

Myles Lewis-Skelly will return at left back. Some have complained about “the way Arteta has treated MLS this season”, but the manager spoke brilliantly about it yesterday saying:

“You can be at a really good level, but somebody can be at a different level, or it’s just that I have the perception at the moment that it’s better to play or start somebody else in the team.”

Riccardo Calafiori has been in fine early season form and you will struggle to make an argument to justify him being dropped. So therefore there is no argument right now the MLS should be starting key league games ahead of him.

Last season Lewis-Skelly played more than any of us, including himself, could have imagined. It is easy to forget that he is still only 18. His time will come.

The absence of Christian Norgaard is surrounded by mystery, with very little details available beyond Arteta saying each week he is “close but not yet ready”. This makes it feel like it is a frustrating absence and hos body is not quite reacting to treatment as it should. I think he might get a run out against Port Vale, however. Even if it is just 45 minutes as he eases back into football.

Ahead of him, I expect Mikel Merino to continue his run in the Arsenal team. With everyone fit, Merino does not start, and against Newcastle I expect Martin Odegaard to return. That means a start for Merino, with ODegaard probably coming on for the last half an hour to shake off any cobwebs. I think Merino will start of the right of the midfield 3.

On the left will be Eberechi Eze, given a central attacking role more akin to what he played in for Crystal Palace. We know Arteta likes he players to be inverted (Odegaard right, Rice left), so I think he will mimic that, with Merino playing on the right side and Eze on the left. It will, however, make us more attacking on the left hand side than the right (in the opposite to how we would normally line up).

Ethan Nwaneri will start ahead of Bukayo Saka on the right wing. There is an option to play him more centrally ahead of Merino, but I think we need Merino’s defensive attributes to help out Norgaard if the Dane is not 100% fit.

On the opposite flank will be Leandro Trossard. He will dovetail nicely with Eze on that left hand side and it will be interesting to watch them interchange positions.

And finally, upfront will be Gabriel Martinelli. I have long said that the Brazilian is potentially a striker. He is very instinctive in front of the goal, as the Man City finish showed. And he offers us raw pace down the middle. I can certainly see a place for him in the Arsenal squad, offering something different to Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres. He is the long term successor to Gabriel Jesus as our utility forward.

Predicted XI:

Kepa
White Mosquera Gabriel MLS
Norgaard
Nwaneri Merino Eze Trossard
Martinelli

Keenos