Arsenal hit four past Newcastle United to reach the Carling Cup quarters
Arsenal turned in a clinical performance in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, 27 October, defeating Newcastle United 4–0 to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
Tim Krul's own goal opened the scoring at the end of the first half, while Theo Walcott's brace and Nicklas Bendtner's sublime strike put the game beyond doubt in the second half.
"We had good performances, we had chances we didn’t take. We were lucky to score just before half-time," Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports News after the win. "I felt Newcastle got many men behind the ball, for us it was more to be patient and wait
for good counter-attacks and wait for our chances."
Before their mishap at Arsenal's first goal, Newcastle withstood the Londoners' pressure well, with Krul stopping drives from both Bendtner and Carlos Vela.
Chris Hughton's team also had some chances of their own, as Alan Smith hit the crossbar in the 15th minute and Peter Lovenkrands had a goal ruled out for offside twenty minutes later.
The visitors got their vital opening goal in first-half stoppage time, when Krul's clearance from Walcott's corner was headed back into the box by Tomas Rosicky.
Bendtner met it with a powerful header from the penalty spot that Krul couldn't stop, and when Ryan Taylor tried to head it off the line, it hit the back of the keeper's head and went over the line.
Contentious call by Marriner
Soon after the break, Wenger's team made it game over for their hosts, who suffered from a controversial call by referee Andre Marriner. Bendtner was clearly offside when Johan Djourou headed his clearance up the pitch, but the Dane walked calmly towards
his own goal as Walcott raced clear of the paralysed Newcastle defence.
As Newcastle's Mike Williamson raced to stop Walcott, Bendtner appeared to trip him. Marriner waved play on and Walcott finished calmly behind Krul.
Bendtner's next contribution was indisputable, on the other hand. Substitute Cesc Fabregas stole possession in midfield and played the striker in on the left side of the area. The 22-year-old, making his first start of the season, cut inside and sent an
unstoppable drive into the top corner for his team's third.
The Newcastle defence, still too sluggish to deal with Walcott's pace, gifted the Englishman an opening, two minutes from time. The 21-year-old raced clear and slotted the ball into the net, to the left of Krul this time.
Arsenal quarter-final opponents will be determined on Saturday, 30 October, when the Carling Cup draw takes place.
Tags: