25 September 2025
Arsenal and Manchester City qualified for the fourth round of the English League Cup on Wednesday after beating their third-tier hosts, Port Vale and Huddersfield Town, by the same score, 2-0, respectively.
In the first match, Eberechi Eze scored his first goal for Arsenal in the eighth minute, before Belgian Leandro Trossard sealed the victory in the final minutes (86).
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta made several changes to the starting lineup compared to the last league match against City (1-1), giving Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and Danish Christian Norgaard their first starts for the team.
The match also saw the participation of 15-year-old Max Dauman for Arsenal in the second half.
In the second match, the "Citizens" owed their victory to a brace from Phil Foden (18) and Brazilian Savinho (74).
Spanish coach Pep Guardiola fielded a different lineup than the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League. He made nine changes to the starting lineup, keeping only Phil Foden and Nico O'Reilly on the field, while giving 18-year-old Devin Mukasa his first professional start. Norwegian star Erling Haaland also missed the match.
City didn't have to wait long to take the lead through Foden, who fired a precise low shot from outside the penalty area to the left of Huddersfield goalkeeper Lee Nicholls (18).
Despite City's near-total dominance of possession, they failed to translate that into clear-cut chances during the first half.
The home side were able to break away from their conservative approach at the start of the second half, threatening City goalkeeper Jordan Trafford with a long-range free-kick, which Josh Finney headed to Dutchman Zipkino Redmond, but the latter's volley went wide (53). City secured their victory with a second goal through Savinho, who set up Foden before firing a powerful shot into the roof of the net from close range (74).
Newcastle United joined City in the fourth round with a 3-1 victory over visiting Bradford City of the third tier.
Brazilian Joelinton (17 and 75) and Danish William Osula (19 and 87) scored braces for the Magpies, while Andy Cook scored Bradford's only goal (79).
Tottenham Hotspur joined the group of qualifiers with a 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers of the third tier.
The goals were scored by Portuguese Joao Palhinha (14), Jay McGrath (own goal) (17), and Welshman Brennan Johnson (90+4).
