Young guns shine in Carling Cup

Arsenal put their problems in the league behind them as a young side beat Shrewsbury Town 3-1 on Tuesday night in the Carling Cup Round 3 at the Emirates. A shock could have been on the cards as Shrewsbury took the lead in a period which they dominated. First Arsenal goals for Kieran Gibbs and new boys 0xlade-Chamberlain and Benayoun were enough to see the Gunners through to round 4 of the cup which they got to the final of last season. Ju Young Park made his first Arsenal appearence whilst Igansi Miquel and Francis Coquelin returned to first team duty. Arsenal fielded a very young bench with Ryo, Aneke and Ozyakup all coming on for their first team debuts along with Martinez, Boateng and Yennaris who were unused subs but had been called up to the first team for the first time.

The teams shaking hands before kick off

The first chance of the game fell to Arsenal as Park found Gibbs who had advanced forward before delivering a cross onto the head of Chamakh but Smith managed to tip his header over the bar.

Chamakh then once again had a brilliant chance to give the Gunners the lead as Coquelin tricked his way past the full back before finding Chamakh inside the box but Smith dived across the goal to once again keep the Moroccan out.

Shrewsbury's first chance of the game came from Wright as Goldson found him running forward. Wright then managed to get a shot away which hit the post and came back out only for the follow up to be put straight into the side netting.

The Shrews then took a surprise lead as a throw in found Morgan who put the ball into the box and onto the head of Collins who powered home a header from 6 yards out to make it 1-0 on just 15 minutes.

Arsenal then started to dominate as Jenkinson found Coquelin on the edge of the area who drove a shot from distance but Smith was equal to it to keep out the shot.

From the Gunners next chance they equalised. Carl Jenkinson crossing the ball in which came off a defender and into the path of Gibbs who headed the ball towards the near post and into the back of the net.

The final chance of the half fell to Park as Coquelin played a ball down field to the Korean who cut inside and curled a shot just wide of the goal.

The score at half time was 1-1.

Arsenal fielded a young and inexperienced side

From the first shot of the second half Arsenal took the lead. Frimpong playing the ball to Oxlade-Chamberlain who sent the ball from distance beyond the goalkeeper and into the net.

Chamberlain then went close again to scoring, this time from just outside the area but the goalkeeper managed to save the effort and parm away the shot.

With 11 minutes still to play Arsenal grabbed a third goal as Ozyakup did well down the right hand side by beating his man before feeding Benayoun who fired home to send the Gunners into round 4.

Arsenal were still creating chances and Benayoun had a chance to grab a second as Chamakh found him on the edge of the box. Benayoun then flicked the ball up and unleashed a shot which just went wide.

The final score ended Arsenal 3-1 Shrewsbury.


The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Miquel, Djourou, Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain(90), Coquelin, Frimpong(77), Benayoun, Park(72), Chamakh.
Subs: Martinez, Yennaris, Boateng, Ozyakup(77), Watt, Ryo(72), Aneke(90).

Shrewsbury: Smith, Grandison, Jacobson, McAllister(72), Goldson, Wright, Hazell, Wroe, Ainsworth(78), Collins(72), Morgan.
Subs: Neal, Leslie, Richards(72), Bradshaw(72), Male, Taylor(78). 

My man of the match: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain


Referee: Tony Bates
Attendance: 46,539