Eduardo and Denilson lift Arsenal kids

Last night they left the pitch to the deserved applause of the home crowd.

Eduardo thumps home to give Arsenal the lead

Arsene Wenger's Carling Cup kids inevitably play with a smile on their faces, and this edition of the Arsenal Alternative XI promise to surge all the way to the final again on this assured form.

His new clutch of 17-year-olds, bringing the average age of last night's cavaliering side down to just over 21, were not fazed by the return to the scene of their club's biggest embarrassment last season.

Indeed, the debacle of 10 months ago — when several Arsenal players, including Cesc Fabregas, refused to shake hands afterwards — was a world away from the display that so impressed Bramall Lane this time.

The travelling fans, who were chanting their olés long before the end with Arsenal safely in the quarter-finals, could have been forgiven for pinching Barnsley's Just Like Watching Brazil refrain.

While their godfather Gilberto organised and influenced from a holding midfield position, Eduardo and Denilson moved to the samba beat with the goals that shattered United's hopes.

Eduardo, the scourge of England last season for his adopted Croatia and still to face Steve McClaren's side again in the Euro qualifiers, struck a sizzling opener after eight minutes.

The £7.5million signing from Dinamo Zagreb then caught out the home defence five minutes after the break, and Denilson completed the demolition with more than 20 minutes to play.

Bryan Robson, who shed blood for England and Manchester United, might have hoped for more passion from his Championship side.

Certainly the fan who ran on to the pitch at 3-0 and hurled his scarf in the direction of the United dug-out made clear his disapproval of the performance before being hustled away to scattered applause.

Robson said: "It was a single fan, it doesn't bother me. Arsenal can do that to any team. I saw them do that to a strong Liverpool team at Anfield last season.

"Once they score a second goal, the way they pass the ball makes it impossible for you. But they're not just passers, they are a physical set of players as well. You have to have that balance.

"They've got strength and pace but with passing and possession. They are a very good side, and some of the younger ones are still learning. But the two forwards are getting better all the time."

Wenger, whose Grange Hill XI struggled to overcome fiesty Doncaster a couple of seasons ago, said: "We dominated the game and made it difficult for Sheffield. Their belief went a bit after the second goal. They were maybe a bit more worried about the Championship than the Carling Cup, but our confidence was high and everybody played well."

The 31-year-old Gilberto, said to be at odds with Wenger over selection, might have been expected to bristle at the manager's decision to hand 22-year-old Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski the captain's armband.

But Wenger said: "It's not about how many years you are at the club. Gilberto was the real leader on the pitch, the younger players look up to him. It's not a problem. He's still a key person for me."

Theo Walcott, who hit a post in the second half, should have emphasised the gulf for Arsenal, but it was Eduardo who took the eye, even though Wenger insists he will have to be patient.

Wenger said: "I don't judge a player in the first six months. I give him that time to adapt. He's starting to settle in, but if it takes a bit longer, it takes longer."

SHEFFIELD UNITED (4-4-2): Bennett 5; Bromby 5, Morgan 6, Lucketti 5, Armstrong 5; Carney 5, Montgomery 6, Tonge 5 (Gillespie 74, 6), S Quinn 5 (Webber 63, 5); Sharp 5, Stead 5. (A Quinn 63, 5).

ARSENAL (4-1-3-2): Fabianski 5; Diarra 6, Song 5, J Hoyte 6, Gibbs 6; Gilberto 6; Diaby 7 (Perez 88), Denilson 6 , Walcott 5 (Lansbury 83); Bendtner 6, Eduardo 8 (Barazite 85).

Man of the match: Eduardo.

Referee: Mike Dean.