Old heads inspire young guns as Arsenal march on

James Olley
29 Oct 2009

Arsenal's Carling Cup campaigns have always been associated with the club's young starlets but Arsene Wenger's team selection against Liverpool last night was not just about providing an opportunity for the next generation.

While debutant Craig Eastmond and Fran Merida enjoyed evenings that will only enhance their prospects of a long career at Emirates Stadium, of more pressing importance to the squad as a whole was the game time given to Samir Nasri and Eduardo.

Nasri has never played in this competition before yet this was an invaluable 90-minute run-out against quality opposition on his first appearance since breaking a leg during the pre-season tour to Austria.

The Frenchman produced an encouraging display, as did Eduardo, and the pair will give Wenger further attacking options as Arsenal enter a period of three matches in eight days before the international break.

With Lukasz Fabianski also returning in goal for his first competitive outing of the season and Theo Walcott expected to be in first-team contention again next month, Arsenal are in danger of having a near fully-fit squad for the first time in recent memory and last night could barely have gone better had Wenger organised a practice match himself.

After all, he made 11 changes from the team that drew at West Ham and still ensured another outing in the competition.

While it is true that the only remnants from Liverpool's defeat of Manchester United were Emiliano Insua, Dirk Kuyt and the odd beach ball thrown onto the pitch by supporters with a belated sense of humour, it was nevertheless impressive that a team mixed with experienced
professionals and virtual rookies could largely dominate proceedings.

Merida opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a thunderous strike that rattled the post on its way past Diego Cavalieri before Insua arguably bettered that effort just seven minutes later with a dipping volley that went through Fabianski.

Nicklas Bendtner, who had hitherto endured a torrid evening, netted the winner five minutes after half-time with a left-foot drive into the roof of the net.

It was notable that while Merida and Eastmond were substituted to give them both an individual ovation to savour, Nasri and Eduardo completed the match, partly to ensure that the focus remained on the youngsters.

Speaking about his team's performance after the game, Wenger ensured that emphasis remained. “It was a game of top quality with two teams who really went for it,” said the Frenchman, who could celebrate his first victory since turning 60 years old.

“Liverpool came back to 1-1 and we still managed to win the game. That shows as well we have mental resources.

“I'm very happy to say that we had top quality in every position. The experienced players played well, the young players played well.

“Fran is a quality player and he comes from a very good school in Spain. I kept him because I felt he had the quality to break through to the first team but when you think that all the players who didn't play last night plus all the injured players, of course the competition for places is very difficult. Craig played at right-back in the reserves and we always felt that he was very intelligent in his reading of the game but he lacked a little bit of pace, so we put him in midfield and he has blossomed there.”

Quite where Bendtner fits into all this is something of a mystery. In one sense this was an opportunity to keep himself ticking over as he awaits to be restored to the first team, yet the nagging conclusion is that he failed to convince since he has graduated from the Carling Cup class.

Eastmond was hugely impressive on his debut, showing a level of composure far beyond his years, while Kieran Gibbs produced a solid display in front of England manager Fabio Capello and Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce. Should Ashley Cole or Wayne Bridge miss the flight to South Africa for next summer's World Cup through injury, Wenger insists the 20-year-old will play enough matches to warrant consideration.

“Kieran played last night and he will get games,” he said. “If Fabio Capello asks me my opinion he will get a very positive one. He is ready for the step up to international football.”

Of course, only Nasri, Eduardo and, perhaps, Bendtner will be considered for Saturday's north London derby against Tottenham, so there is little this result indicates ahead of that game except that confidence is high throughout the camp and Wenger's squad options look stronger than they have in some time.

The team may have even learned how to defend a lead too, as Arsenal fans were treated to the unusual sight of their heroes taking the ball into the corners to help run down the clock.
As improving the sharpness of important players was in part the order of the day, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez got in on the act by using new signing Alberto Aquilani for the last 13 minutes.

And the £20million midfielder almost marked his debut with a goal but his overhead scissor kick struck both arms of Philippe Senderos and Liverpool's penalty appeals were then waved away.

Benitez said: “Aquilani has the quality but he needs to improve his match-fitness. You can see he can pass the ball in the final third.”

Arsenal's PA system greeted full-time with The Kids Are Alright by The Who and, while that is true, perhaps more importantly, so is the first-team squad.