Arsenal tie has whetted Vale appetite - Moore

Darren Moore (right) faced Arsenal six times as a player at West Brom and Derby

Port Vale manager Darren Moore says his side's performance against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup has given them a "drive" to get better and whetted their appetite to be part of more high-profile occasions.

The League One side put up gutsy fight against the Premier League side at a packed Vale Park.

Arsenal took an early lead through England forward Eberechi Eze's first goal for the club but only made sure of the win with a second from Leandro Trossard four minutes from time.

In between, Vale made things tough for Mikel Arteta's star-studded team leaving Moore delighted with his players.

"The proudest moment for me was how the boys responded to going a goal behind," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We didn't lose our shape, or heads, and stayed compact.

"To go against that level of opponent and be in the game for long periods was fantastic."

Unsurprisingly given the stature of their opponents, Vale's share of possession in the game was limited.

They gave Arsenal some uncomfortable moments from set-pieces while in-form striker Devante Cole sent a 20-yarder just over the bar.

"We were just looking for that one chance," Moore added.

"There was a couple of half chances when I thought we might have pulled the trigger or something dropped for us in the box but it wasn't to be.

"We didn't sit back. We tried top put the pressure on them and turn the ball over and it forced them to produced some really good play to break through us."

Wednesday night, though, was about much more than just the result for Moore who was thrilled to see more than 16,000 fans inside Vale Park.

"When I arrived 19 months ago the idea was to get this place going and get the fans connected with the team and work to get moments like this," he said.

"For me it was a proud, proud evening. I did pause and look around and said 'this is what it's all about'.

"It's whetted our appetite. We've got some work to do but nights like this are a credit to everybody."

The 16,326 at Vale Park was the club's largest attendance since 16,557 watched them play Liverpool in the FA Cup in 1999

Vale now have the 'drive to get better'

Vale now turn their attention back to League One with Saturday's trip to Barnsley.

Moore says, after two wins and their experience against Arsenal, they go to Oakwell in "the right frame of mind" to keep their momentum going.

He said that should be helped by the lessons they will take away from their tie with the Gunners.

"The messages I've been giving the players over the course of the season about what it takes - the movement, the discipline, the decision-making, the touch, the speed - all those things the players felt first hand," Moore said.

"You can talk about it but when they experience it, it creates discussion.

"They've gone against one of the elite clubs in the world and at times when toe-to-toe with them it will give them a drive to get better."