A rejuvenated City side this evening secured a place in the semi-finals of the League Cup after comfortably beating a youthful Arsenal 3-0 in front of a capacity crowd at Eastlands. The better side for pretty much the entire ninety minutes, terrific goals from Carlos Tevez, Shaun Wright-Phillips and academy graduate Vladimir Weiss means we can now look forward to a two-legged tie against our less-illustrious near-neighbours.Mark Hughes opted to rest midfield anchorman Nigel de Jong with the Dutchman in danger of missing Saturday's league game with Chelsea would he have picked up another booking. Gareth Barry took his place. Craig Bellamy coming in for Robinho was the only other change. The visitors went with a relatively experienced back five, and also included Thomas Rosicky. Exciting youngsters Wilshere, Vela, Merida and Ramsey all started.
Right from the off we looked up for the occasion, no-one more so than diminutive winger Wright-Phillips. He turned former United defender Mikael Silvestre in the opening moments, leaving him for dead on the touchline much to the amusement of the full house. Within the opening ten minutes Carlos Tevez had also blazed a shot wide and Emmanuel Adebayor tested Fabianski with a header from a Barry corner.
Craig Bellamy's hopeful appeal for a penalty fell on deaf ears, the Welshman seeming to run into Alex Song in the area. Moments later SWP again skinned Silvestre, the centre-half failing to shepherd a ball out of play, Shaun applying pressure on him and pulling back for Bellamy who pulled a shot wide of the far post. Tevez also tested the 'keeper with a rasping shot following a run from midfield, whilst Arsenal's only real effort fell to Vela who put well over.
Wright-Phillips was really giving the Arsenal defence the runaround, and just after the half-hour he cut in and out before losing his footing as a shot looked on the cards. At the other end Eboue's tame stab was straight at Given, and that's as close as they'd get. Armand Traore earned himself a booking and had done well to not get one earlier, no match for the in-form England winger whatsoever. The resulting free-kick was headed just over by Song.
Not being able to take a deserved lead in the first period many Blues must've been getting the usual nagging doubts, but within four minutes of the restart we were in the lead. Carlos Tevez's throughball led to a Bellamy cross cleared out of defence, and the Argentine was on to the resultant clearance right away, biting at the heels of the Arsenal man, exchanging quick passes with Bellamy, cutting in to the box and away from two half-hearted challenges he smashed a delightful effort in off the bar.
Emmanuel Adebayor had a chance to bag a second minutes later, more great work by Bellamy down the left, latching on to a header out of defence, biding his time and crossing for the big striker only for Fabianski to just do enough to put him off, the ball sailing over. Bellamy then tested the Pole with a free-kick after Silvestre had cynically hauled Adebayor down when through, escaping with a booking.
Until the second goal arrived in the 70th minute Arsenal did have a spell of good pressure; Ramsey, Vela and Merida working some tasty moves, especially down our left. The game was put to bed, though, when Wright-Phillips got the goal his performance warranted, and a scorcher it was. The little fella picked up the ball just in the opposition half, sprinting towards goal, pulling the defender slightly wide and cracking a blistering effort into the far top corner, no 'keeper in the world would've stopped it.
Vince Kompany replaced Tevez, and Jack Wilshere and Song followed joined several of their teammates in the book. Wilshere had been booked for niggling at Bellamy all evening, eventually leaving Chris Foy little choice. Song blocked Ireland after the midfielder had skipped two challenges and would otherwise have been clear to grab a third. Bellamy tested Fabianski after a free-kick, and himself later earned a yellow card for a lunge on Eboue.
The game was put beyond all doubt as the seconds wore down. Bellamy wriggled through two challenges and was clear down his flank, releasing an inviting cross across the goalmouth for sub Weiss to smash home against the crossbar for his first senior goal for the club. A late Fran Merida volley rattled the bar at the other end, but by that time Arsenal were well beaten, their manager summing them up best by forgetting about sportsmanship and leaving without shaking Mark Hughes' hand. Not the first time that's happened, it must be said.
Overall, it was a fantastic team performance and exactly what was needed after the recent malaise. Everyone played their part, but special praise must go to Joleon Lescott who didn't put a foot wrong all evening and looked imperious against a speedy and tricky but admittedly often blunt Arsenal attack, and Wright-Phillips, who absolutely tore his marker to shreds, a non-stop, energetic performance. Bellamy gave 100%, too, and second half particularly ran and ran, and Tevez was a constant threat. Micah Richards also looked a bit more like his former confident self.
Now we've got United over two legs. With Chelsea going out the draw could have been easier, but we'll fancy our chances, especially if Fergie shows faith in his young guns again, and the simple facts are that you have to beat top sides to win cups. We won't be getting carried away just yet, but a win at Eastlands could make the return interesting. Whatever happens at least we've got that quarter-final monkey off our backs, and confidence should be up ahead of the visit of Chelsea on Saturday. Well done!
Team:
Given, Richards, Bridge, Toure, Lescott, Barry, Wright-Phillips (Weiss '77), Ireland, Tevez (Kompany '74), Adebayor, Bellamy
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