Arsenal was sabotaged by the opponent through... the groundskeeping staff!

Right before the Carabao Cup game, Arsenal went through a difficult warm-up on Port Vale’s pitch.

According to reports, Arsenal’s starting lineup was doing small passing drills ending with shots near the penalty area. Players took turns firing powerful shots to warm up their legs. However, during these shots, some Port Vale staff unexpectedly entered the area just outside the penalty box to perform turf maintenance. This untimely intrusion immediately caused chaos.

In one moment, Ben White took a live shot that accidentally struck a staff member’s leg. The strong contact startled him, while Arsenal players showed obvious frustration. Bukayo Saka quickly approached, exchanging words and shrugging as if questioning why the staff chose such a strange moment to work.

This clearly seemed like deliberate disruption, since it’s rare for groundskeepers to work right when the visiting team is warming up. Nonetheless, Arsenal did not let this interruption affect their focus.

Once the match started, Mikel Arteta’s team immediately demonstrated superiority. Within 8 minutes, Eberechi Eze delivered an accurate finish to open the scoring, relieving Arsenal’s pressure early on. Throughout the first half, the Gunners controlled the game, forcing Port Vale to retreat deep in defense. Near the end, Leandro Trossard capitalized on an opportunity to double the lead, sealing a 2-0 victory.

In this match, Arteta rotated his squad significantly. Some substitutes got playing time, while newcomer Kepa Arrizabalaga started his first game for Arsenal and kept a clean sheet. However, Arteta retained Saka in the starting eleven to maintain balance and lead the attacking play.

Before the match, the Spanish coach said: "Indeed, many players will get minutes and they fully deserve these opportunities. Kepa is definitely among them. He’s been here, always maintaining a positive attitude, supporting us in every aspect as best as he can. All of them deserve more playing time than they have had."

This straightforward win not only advanced Arsenal in the Carabao Cup but also showcased the resilience of a top team. Even when opponents tried to disrupt their warm-up, the Gunners stayed calm, controlled the game, and completed their task.