The ridiculous Arsenal XI Mikel Arteta can field against Port Vale and still rest eleven players

Arsenal have done extensive work in the summer transfer window to strengthen the squad and make it far more competitive than ever before. The Gunners ended up breaking their record for a summer expenditure and football.london understands the loan signing of Piero Hincapie has an option which will be activated for £45million next summer.

This takes the potential investment in the team in 2025 to more than £300million, with Mikel Arteta being delivered a dream transfer window to chase down silverware ambitions. It means the club have little in the way of reasons, even after an early-season injury crisis, for why they cannot go far in every competition.

Arsenal’s first non-Premier League match comes next week in Bilbao when they take on Athletic Club in the UEFA Champions League. But the following week sees another trip away from home but to a lower-league opposition as the Gunners face Port Vale.

Arsenal reached the semi-final of the competition last season but lost to eventual winners Newcastle United. It was disappointing that they couldn’t reach the final, and it added to the narrative surrounding Arteta’s ability to get past the semi-final stage.

However, with eight new players through the door and other youngsters a year older, Arsenal can look to go even further this time around. They can even afford to rest the majority of their current starting eleven and play a very competitive side at Vale Park.

Kepa Arrizabalaga has come in to compete with David Raya. A Champions League-winning goalkeeper who ranked sixth in the Premier League for clear sheets last season.

Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie and Myles Lewis-Skelly could form the back four. Although with William Saliba’s injury, it might be that Mosquera will have played plenty by the time the Carabao Cup trip comes around.

In midfield, Christian Norgaard, who has been injured and has not made his debut, hopes to return by then. Eberechi Eze and Ethan Nwaneri can form an offensive-minded attacking midfield pair ahead of the Dane.

Up top, Max Dowman has been incredibly impressive and could get his first start of the season here. He joins Leandro Trossard on the other flank, who came on to partner the 15-year-old against Leeds, and the pair combined throughout the conclusion to the match.

While Mikel Merino, allowing Viktor Gyokeres a rest, can come in to a familiar yet unorthodox striker role. Following his hat-trick for Spain, this should be no issue for the 29-year-old.

Arsenal potential XI vs Port Vale: Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Eze, Nwaneri; Dowman, Merino, Trossard.

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