Arsenal hammer a weakened Newcastle side

Arsenal beat Newcastle 4-0 on Wednesday night at St James' Park to reach the quarter finals of the Carling Cup. Walcott grabbed 2 goals, Bendtner got one and an own goal sealed the victory. Both teams fielded weakened sides but Arsenal put a stronger lineup out than in recent years in this competition. Wojciech Szczesny was playing in goal for the Gunners, making only his second Arsenal appearence. Meanwhile in midfield young Craig Eastmond was only making his sixth start for Arsenal.

Arsenal should have taken the lead only 20 seconds into the game when Williamson gifted the ball to Rosicky who fed the ball through to Vela but his shot was kept out and went for a corner. Walcott took the corner and delivered it towards Bendtner who had 3 bites at the ball but failed to convert his chances. It was all Arsenal and Bendtner had another great chance to make it 1-0 moments later but he dragged his shot wide.

Then Newcastle had their first chance of the game when Ranger was sent through and went round the oncoming Szczesny but failed to score as his shot was blocked by Koscielny. From the resulting throw in, Denilson gave the ball straight to Smith who smashed a thundering shot towards goal. Szczesny managed to get fingertips to it to tip the ball onto the bar to make a great save.

Arsenal were then forced into making an unfortunate substitution on only 18 minutes as Kieran Gibbs hobbled off to be replaced by Bacary Sagna.

Eboue got a great chance when he raced down the left hand side, he opted to shoot from a tight angle but wasted the opportunity when the ball hit the side netting and there were plenty of Arsenal bodies in the box which he should have found.

Then just before half time Arsenal finally took the lead through an own goal. Walcott delivered a corner and it was then headed towards Bendtner who flicked it towards goal. The ball was cleared off the line but straight on to the head of the Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul and in.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.



8 minutes into the second half the Gunners doubled their lead through Theo Walcott. Johan Djourou with a massive defensive clearence to Walcott who raced clear and dinked the ball over Krul to make it 2-0 to Arsenal.

Newcastle were now begining to create chances and Szczesny saved brilliantly from close range from Taylor after an inswinging corner from Guthrie.

But 8 minutes from time the Gunners sealed the victory through Nicklas Bendtner. Guthrie had gifted the ball to Fabregas who then found Bendtner who fired the ball beyond Tim Krul to make it 3-0.

Szczesny then stopped Newcastle again from grabbing a consolation goal when he made a brilliant save from Ryan Taylor's free kick, diving to his left hand side to keep the score at 3-0.

Arsenal then completed the win 2 minutes from time when Koscielny found Walcott who raced clear again and slotted the ball past Krul for his second and Arsenal's fourth of the night.

The final score ended Newcastle 0-4 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Newcastle: Krul, Williamson, Perch, Taylor, Kadar, Guthrie, Routledge(56), Smith(70), Vuckic, Lovenkrands(56), Ranger.
Subs: Coloccini, Gutierrez(56), Tiote, Carroll(56), Soderberg, Enrique, Barton(70).

Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs(18), Denilson, Eastmond, Rosicky, Walcott, Bendtner(83), Vela(69).
Subs: Fabianski, Sagna(18), Nordtveit, Fabregas(69), Arshavin, Emmauel-Thomas(83), Lansbury.


My man of the match: Theo Walcott

Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 33,157