Newcastle tried to hold ground, and did so for 83 minutes, 'by hook or by crook'. But a bullet header from Nicklas Bendtner and a strike by Brazilian Denilson was enough to beat Newcastle at Emirates Stadium.
ARSENAL 2 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0
Youngsters Too Good For Battling Toon!
By Nu Mad
Updated Wednesday, 26th September 2007
ARSENAL: Fabianski, Justin Hoyte, Eboue (Diaby 64), Senderos, Traore, Diarra, Denilson, Song Billong, Walcott, Bendtner, Eduardo (Perez 90).Subs Not Used: Mannone, Lansbury, Gavin Hoyte.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Beye, Taylor, Rozehnal, Jose Enrique, Milner (Butt 70), Smith, Faye, N'Zogbia, Ameobi (Emre 60), Martins.
Subs Not Used: Forster, Geremi, Edgar.
Att: 60,004
Arsene Wenger has a tradition for playing the kids in the Carling Cup, and last season's losing finalists showed once again they are a match for anyone in this competition.
It is fourth on the list of Wenger's priorities, yet it was top of the list for Sam Allardyce, and now Newcastle must look to the FA Cup as the only opportunity to pick up a trophy this season.
After dominating for long spells, the breakthrough eventually came when Bendtner powered in his first senior Arsenal goal on 83 minutes from Armand Traore's deep cross.
Captain Philippe Senderos had to clear off the line - but Denilson made sure of the result with a fine 20-yard strike.
Arsenal, to there credit, reduced ticket prices to £10 to ensure a bumper attendance for the game, and were rewarded with a 60,000-plus crowd.
But the pre-match travel problems around North London on the underground were ridiculous, and many fans arrived late.
Newcastle who created the first decent opening on 10 minutes, Sanchez Jose Enrique sent over a deep cross from the left towards the far post. Obafemi Martins got up above the defence and headed the ball downwards, but Pole Lukasz Fabianski - on his debut - produced a reaction save.
Arsenal slowly started to build some pressure and the hosts could have gone ahead on 17 minutes. Full-back Traore got away down the Arsenal left and sent over a deep cross towards the penalty spot. Bendtner, under pressure from David Rozehnal, got plenty of power on his header but could not keep the ball down and it flew high over the bar.
Shay Given showed his experience to quickly close down an Arsenal striker on the edge of the area and the loose ball was cleared. And onn 37 minutes, Eboue sent in a low drive from 20 yards, which Given did well to palm away.
Arsenal again pressed following the restart. Bendtner cut the ball back to Eboue, who made space for an angled drive, which Given put behind.
The Republic of Ireland keeper then showed more good reflexes to deny Walcott from close range.
Steven Taylor made a stunning tackle on Eboue to deny the Ivory Coast man inside the six-yard box on 55 minutes. From the resulting corner, Charles N'Zogbia was in just the right place to clear Eduardo's goal-bound looping header off the line.
Given was having a busy night, as he turned over a left-wing cross from Walcott which suddenly swerved goalwards.
Newcastle felt they had a penalty shout when Martins tumbled under a challenge from Senderos, but referee Howard Webb was not impressed.
But Arsenal stepped up a gear to score two goals in the last seven minutes, to knock the Geordie boys out of the competition.
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