Wenger's kids gun down Reds

Nicklas Bendtner sent Arsenal into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup as Arsene Wenger’s kids showed Liverpool the strength they have in reserve.

Fran Merida, who is out of contract in the summer, opened the scoring at the Emirates Stadium with a spectacular drive before Emiliano Insua levelled with a dipping lob before the break for Liverpool, who gave Alberto Aquilani his debut off the bench.
 
Denmark striker Bendtner finished off a sweeping move constructed by Wenger's youngsters just after the interval for the winner in the fourth-round clash.
 
Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri made his first start of the season and Alberto Aquilani was on the bench for Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
 
It was Nasri's first appearance of the campaign after suffering a fractured leg, while Aquilani had not featured since his £20million arrival from Roma in the summer.
 
Arsene Wenger made 11 changes from the side that drew at West Ham, with Eduardo and Nicklas Bendtner starting for the hosts. and Aaron Ramsey in midfield.
 
Only Dirk Kuyt remained from the Liverpool that defeated Manchester United on Sunday.
 
Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin and Martin Skrtel were given a chance to stake a claim for a starting place and the rest of Liverpool's line-up was made up of youngsters such as midfielder Jay Spearing and French striker David Ngog, who scored against United.
 
Ngog's backheel tricked Philippe Senderos to create the first clear opening, with full-back Philipp Degen racing through but blasting wide of Lukasz Fabianski's goal.
 
Nasri looked like bursting through Liverpool's defence before he was brought down by Skrtel on the edge of the area. The Frenchman picked himself up and curled the free-kick wide.
 
Another chance was created following Kieran Gibbs pacing down the left flank. He shifted the ball inside, Bendtner played a one-two with Eduardo but lost his footing with just Diego Cavalieri to beat.
 
They were not made to wait long for the opener, which came in the 19th minute. Craig Eastmond won the ball off Damien Plessis and it ran kindly for Merida. 
 
The Spaniard was 25 yards out and unleashed a drive that flew off the post and into the top corner - and it got his compatriot Cesc Fabregas jumping with delight in the stands.
 
Insua's goal was just as spectacular as the opener. Degan's long ball was nodded back by Babel and Insua took a touch before beating Fabianski with a swerving, dipping volley that whistled over the Poland goalkeeper.
 
Arsenal almost took the lead again when Ramsey raced through following a sweeping move. Cavalieri raced out and was beaten by the chip - but Skrtel was back to clear.
 
Cavalieri was given another let-off when he made a total mess of a Nasri corner just before the break. His defenders bailed him out as Mikael Silvestre and Eduardo looked to pounce, with Bendtner then stabbing at the goalkeeper.
 
Left-back Gibbs, looking to impress England manager Fabio Capello in the stands, started the flowing move that led to Bendtner adding the second.
 
Gibbs collected Merida's backheel and swept the ball from left to right although the move looked like it could break down before Eastmond clipped a pass back out to Merida.
 
The cross was meant for Ramsey but Bendtner took control, bursting through Skrtel's challenge and smashing into the roof of Cavalieri's net.
 
After three fine goals in the tie, Voronin looked to add a fourth. He played a double one-two with Degan before pulling his shot just wide. Babel also tried his luck with a 40-yard free-kick that Fabianski went down to save.
 
Eastmond and Bendtner came off for Mark Randall and Sanchez Watt, while Ngog made way for Yossi Benayoun. Then with 14 minutes left, the Liverpool fans got what they wanted and Aquilani came on for Plessis.
 
Babel could not connect with Kuyt's cross towards the end, while Eduardo almost added a third when he raced through.
 
Liverpool had a penalty shout turned down at the death when Senderos blocked Aquilani's scissor-kick with his arm, with Alan Wiley waving play on.
 
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