After returning to Manchester on Wednesday night Arsenal beat Manchester City 2-1 to progress to the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
Manchester City played very well in the first half and dominated against basically an U-21 team bar the inclusions Pascal Cygan and Manuel Almunia. But in the second half the youngsters found some momentum and Arturo Lupoli thought he had scored in the 74th minute but his close range finish was chalked off for handball.
It didn't matter though as four minutes later Robin van Persie marked his full debut with a well-worked goal. Substitute Danny Karbassiyoon scored in injury time and even though Robbie Fowler scored it was nothing more than a consolation.
So things are looking rosy for Arsène Wenger's team and despite reaching the Semi Finals last season this match against Man City, away from home, was arguably a harder match than any of the tasks faced in previous seasons.
Arsène Wenger had just signed a new 3-year contract today and his commitment was further rewarded by the performances of some of the youngsters on show tonight.
The team news was not surprising. No one who started against Manchester United on the weekend played. Manuel Almunia, Robin van Persie, Seb Larsson and Arturo Lupoli all made their debuts. Mathieu Flamini and Ryan Smith made their full debuts for the club.
The home side found a great deal of satisfaction through their right wing with Willo Flood and Shawn Wright Phillips giving Larsson a hard time. They had pushed Arsenal far back and it was a bit unusual for the away side to be in this sort of position.
Then as the game went on Lupoli and van Persie started to form a partnership. The young Italian sent van Persie through but Danny Mills guided him wide before fouling him on the right wing. The free kick was taken but was harmless.
The youngsters were showing great skills but their opponents had the physical strength that only comes with age. They were just being hustled off the ball despite their efforts.
On 26 minutes Wright-Phillips found some space and drilled a speculative effort towards goal but Almunia stuck to his task well and gathered. Two minutes later Danny Mills fired in a free kick but Antoine Sibierski's nod down was fired wide by Robbie Fowler when placed in a position where he should have done better.
With quarter of an hour left of the first half Arsenal finally put the home side under some sustained pressure. Van Persie tried to do a couple of chip shots but none came off.
Despite this though Man City continued to put Arsenal under pressure and Flood was enjoying his time on the right wing. Trevor Sinclair had found some space on the right wing towards the end of the half and his teasing cross was met by Sibierski who in turn nodded into Almunia's hands.
At the death, Francesc Fabregas nearly put the Gunners in the lead with a shot that forced Ronald Waterreus to save. It was as close as Arsenal had come and maybe a sign of things to come.
Two minutes after the restart Lupoli fired in a shot which dragged just wide of the post. But Man City continued their dominance and this was further exemplified by Cygan's clearance off the line after Almunia failed to collect Sibierski's cross and Hoyte cleared Wright-Phillips cross just before Fowler could reach the ball.
Man City were still menacing but Arsenal were slowly gaining in self-belief.
After Smith unfortunately hobbled off with a suspected calf injury Quincy Owusu Abeyie came on with 29 minutes remaining. The young Dutch strikers arrival seemed to have given the young Gunners fresh attacking impetus.
Pennant dragged a shot wide. Wright-Phillips tested Almunia again, and Quincy set up van Persie but the Dutchman blazed his shot over at the near post. Things seemed to be getting better for the away side.
On 74 minutes Fabregas sent a lofted ball through to Robin van Persie who in turn chested the ball down and fired at Waterreus. The ball fell kindly into the path of the onrushing Lupoli who found the net with a tap-in. However celebrations were halted to a premature end when the goal was ruled out for handball.
This could have down heartened the youngsters on show but it seemed to further whet their appetite for the winner. And the got it four minutes later courtesy of van Persie. Flamini had played a one-two with Lupoli and found van Perise in acres of space near the penalty spot, and the rest was history.
Danny Karbassiyoon fired in what was to be the clincher within 10 minutes of coming on for Lupoli. Fabregas fed him and with van Persie free in the center most would have cut the ball back, but he decided to fire in from an acute angle.
Robbie Fowler got his customary goal against the Gunners, but despite this the away side held firm and got a deserved victory.
So it seems the Gunners have wiped out the memory of Old Trafford out of their minds and with the victory of their youths combined with Arsène Wenger's contract extension there seems to be every reason to be cheerful at Highbury at the moment.
So it seems the Galactikids, as they are known by some, march bravely on.
Manchester City played very well in the first half and dominated against basically an U-21 team bar the inclusions Pascal Cygan and Manuel Almunia. But in the second half the youngsters found some momentum and Arturo Lupoli thought he had scored in the 74th minute but his close range finish was chalked off for handball.
It didn't matter though as four minutes later Robin van Persie marked his full debut with a well-worked goal. Substitute Danny Karbassiyoon scored in injury time and even though Robbie Fowler scored it was nothing more than a consolation.
So things are looking rosy for Arsène Wenger's team and despite reaching the Semi Finals last season this match against Man City, away from home, was arguably a harder match than any of the tasks faced in previous seasons.
Arsène Wenger had just signed a new 3-year contract today and his commitment was further rewarded by the performances of some of the youngsters on show tonight.
The team news was not surprising. No one who started against Manchester United on the weekend played. Manuel Almunia, Robin van Persie, Seb Larsson and Arturo Lupoli all made their debuts. Mathieu Flamini and Ryan Smith made their full debuts for the club.
The home side found a great deal of satisfaction through their right wing with Willo Flood and Shawn Wright Phillips giving Larsson a hard time. They had pushed Arsenal far back and it was a bit unusual for the away side to be in this sort of position.
Then as the game went on Lupoli and van Persie started to form a partnership. The young Italian sent van Persie through but Danny Mills guided him wide before fouling him on the right wing. The free kick was taken but was harmless.
The youngsters were showing great skills but their opponents had the physical strength that only comes with age. They were just being hustled off the ball despite their efforts.
On 26 minutes Wright-Phillips found some space and drilled a speculative effort towards goal but Almunia stuck to his task well and gathered. Two minutes later Danny Mills fired in a free kick but Antoine Sibierski's nod down was fired wide by Robbie Fowler when placed in a position where he should have done better.
With quarter of an hour left of the first half Arsenal finally put the home side under some sustained pressure. Van Persie tried to do a couple of chip shots but none came off.
Despite this though Man City continued to put Arsenal under pressure and Flood was enjoying his time on the right wing. Trevor Sinclair had found some space on the right wing towards the end of the half and his teasing cross was met by Sibierski who in turn nodded into Almunia's hands.
At the death, Francesc Fabregas nearly put the Gunners in the lead with a shot that forced Ronald Waterreus to save. It was as close as Arsenal had come and maybe a sign of things to come.
Two minutes after the restart Lupoli fired in a shot which dragged just wide of the post. But Man City continued their dominance and this was further exemplified by Cygan's clearance off the line after Almunia failed to collect Sibierski's cross and Hoyte cleared Wright-Phillips cross just before Fowler could reach the ball.
Man City were still menacing but Arsenal were slowly gaining in self-belief.
After Smith unfortunately hobbled off with a suspected calf injury Quincy Owusu Abeyie came on with 29 minutes remaining. The young Dutch strikers arrival seemed to have given the young Gunners fresh attacking impetus.
Pennant dragged a shot wide. Wright-Phillips tested Almunia again, and Quincy set up van Persie but the Dutchman blazed his shot over at the near post. Things seemed to be getting better for the away side.
On 74 minutes Fabregas sent a lofted ball through to Robin van Persie who in turn chested the ball down and fired at Waterreus. The ball fell kindly into the path of the onrushing Lupoli who found the net with a tap-in. However celebrations were halted to a premature end when the goal was ruled out for handball.
This could have down heartened the youngsters on show but it seemed to further whet their appetite for the winner. And the got it four minutes later courtesy of van Persie. Flamini had played a one-two with Lupoli and found van Perise in acres of space near the penalty spot, and the rest was history.
Danny Karbassiyoon fired in what was to be the clincher within 10 minutes of coming on for Lupoli. Fabregas fed him and with van Persie free in the center most would have cut the ball back, but he decided to fire in from an acute angle.
Robbie Fowler got his customary goal against the Gunners, but despite this the away side held firm and got a deserved victory.
So it seems the Gunners have wiped out the memory of Old Trafford out of their minds and with the victory of their youths combined with Arsène Wenger's contract extension there seems to be every reason to be cheerful at Highbury at the moment.
So it seems the Galactikids, as they are known by some, march bravely on.
