Yesterday’s Carabao Cup third-round games served up drama, surprises, and big wins across England. Holders Newcastle thrashed Bradford City 4–1 with braces from Joelinton and Will Osula, while Arsenal advanced past Port Vale 2–0 through goals from Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard. Wycombe downed Wigan 2–0 in a game briefly halted when a linesman collapsed injured.
In a confident display befitting cup holders, Newcastle United delivered a statement performance against League One’s Bradford City, winning 4–1.Struggling to find goals in the Premier League this season, Newcastle found redemption here. Joelinton and Will Osula both netted braces, providing a comfortable cushion for their side. Meanwhile, Bruno Guimarães impressed in midfield, linking play and dictating tempo as Newcastle navigated their way through Bradford’s resistance.
https://www.skysport.com
Bradford, meanwhile, managed a solitary consolation goal through Andy Cook, a lifelong Newcastle fan, adding a bittersweet twist. The result sends Newcastle into the next round with authority and sets up a fourth-round clash with Tottenham. For Bradford, the cup run ends but with cash reward, experience, and perhaps lessons for their league campaign.
Arsenal’s Carabao Cup journey continued with a 2–0 win over Port Vale. The match was perhaps more controlled than spectacular, but there were meaningful moments. Eberechi Eze opened his goal account for the Gunners just eight minutes in, calmly slotting a finish after being set up by Gabriel Martinelli and a dummy from Myles Lewis-Skelly. He described it as a “long time coming” and a special milestone.
Arsenal enjoyed dominance in possession reportedly up to 80% in parts of the match—but found Port Vale’s pressing and fight persistent. It wasn’t until late when Leandro Trossard sealed the tie with a composed finish, giving Arsenal breathing room and sending them into the fourth round.
While the result is positive, the performance drew criticisms: despite control, Arsenal cobbled together limited shots on target, and manager Mikel Arteta admitted they lost rhythm in the second half. Still, with squad rotation in full swing, the Gunners moved on and looked ahead to tougher tests ahead.
Fourth Round Draw & Implications
Following these results, the fourth-round draw was conducted, delivering some intriguing matchups. Among the pairings:
Newcastle vs Tottenham
Arsenal vs Brighton
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
Chelsea vs Wolves
Wrexham vs Cardiff,
Swansea vs Manchester City
Grimsby vs Brentford
Wycombe vs Fulham.
The draw also provoked vocal reactions from fans. Particularly after matchups seen as advantageous emerged, some critics charged that the process was “rigged.” The matchup of Wrexham against Cardiff garnered special focus, with some labeling it a sentimental tie and others proposing possible manipulation.
