Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1: Bendtner and Merida lead young Guns into quarters
The kids are alright, says the Who song that rang around the Emirates at the end of this match last night, and in Arsenal's case that would certainly seem to be the case.[LNB] They were terrific against Liverpool and deserving of their place in the Carling Cup quarter-finals. [LNB]For Liverpool, however, it was a touch less encouraging. Some of their kids were alright, too, but a fourth consecutive away defeat once again exposed deficiencies in Rafa Benitez's squad, even if he made nine changes to the side that so impressively beat Manchester United on Sunday.[LNB] Decisive strike: Nicklas Bendtner gets in front of Martin Skrtel to fire the winner for Arsenal[LNB]There were positives for Benitez, not least the appearance of Alberto Aquilani for the final 13 minutes. His first game was not memorable but he did produce a quite brilliant crossfield ball and he might have scored with an overhead kick had it not struck Philippe Senderos on his forearms.[LNB] 'It could have been a penalty,' complained Benitez, but Alan Wiley thought not.[LNB] In the end it was the youngsters, rather than a £20million signing from Roma, who made this such a thoroughly entertaining game, one oozing with enterprise, invention and enthusiasm. [LNB]'It was more like a European Cup game than a Carling Cup game, so high was the quality,' purred Arsene Wenger. 'We were excellent in every position.'[LNB]Old joke: Referee Alan Wiley clears a beach ball from the pitch[LNB]They were and here, in the form of three brilliant goals and some marvellous individual performances, were the reasons why our leading clubs risk the wrath of the football authorities when they buy up the best young talent in the world. [LNB]Here were the reasons why Chelsea have been hit with an 18- month transfer ban and so many of their rivals continue to tiptoe through a minefield of regulations. Arsenal caused an international incident when they lured Fran Merida from Barcelona as a 15-yearold four seasons ago and, while nobody is suggesting their capture of Nicklas Bendtner - and Liverpool's signing of Emiliano Insua - broke any rules, Kjobenhavns Boldklub and Boca Juniors can't have been too chuffed to see such fine young players heading to England so soon. [LNB]But Arsenal and Liverpool recruited them when they were boys and last night we saw how brilliant they could yet become - as well as a number their young colleagues.[LNB] So many potential stars shone. Bendtner, Insua and Merida scored, but Aaron Ramsey, Craig Eastmond - a right-back making his firstteam debut in a midfield holding role - and Kieran Gibbs also excelled in an Arsenal side that booked their place in the last eight when their Denmark striker struck in the 50th minute.[LNB] Level terms: Emiliano Insua fires a blistering equaliser for Liverpool[LNB] Merida is an interesting one, not least because, for all thetrouble they went to signing a player who followed in the controversialfootsteps of Cesc Fabregas, his future remains uncertain at Arsenal.The 19-year-old almost disappeared for the season on loan and is nowstalling on signing a contract.[LNB] If it is more money he wants,the goal he scored last night might just convince Arsenal to increasetheir offer. A case that had echoes of the Kakuta controversy ended upin the Spanish courts and it would be bizarre to lose him now, even ifhe has been slow in his development.[LNB] [LNB]ONE TO WATCH AARON RAMSEY (Arsenal) [LNB]Ramsey is not exactly a new name in the higher echelons of English football, given that he arrived at Arsenal from Cardiff City in the summer of 2008 for a fee of £5million. He had become the second youngest player to appear in an FA Cup Final a few months earlier and now, still just 18, has 10 Wales caps. He helped make Arsenal's slick midfield tick last night and cannot be too far away from Arsene Wenger's starting line-up on this display. [LNB]Last night Wenger made the kind of joke that might raise a few eyebrowsat the Nou Camp. [LNB]'He comes from a very good school,' he said with a wrysmile before, upon request, explaining himself a little further. [LNB]'Hecomes from a Spanish school that is in line with the one we have here.He came here at a very young age but he suits our style of football.'[LNB]Insua is proving more reliable at Liverpool and, at 20, is now an Argentina international. Benitez was pleased to see him show the kind of promise he has often displayed on the training pitch.[LNB] It was Bendtner, a 21-year-old now commanding a regular first team place after five seasons at Arsenal, who reminded us why Wenger has so much faith in him. He owed much to his colleagues for the buildup to the goal, but he still had to surge past a disappointing Martin Skrtel before beating Diego Cavalieri with a terrific left-footed strike.[LNB] From the very start Arsenal played quite beautiful football, full of flair and finesse, exactly the kind of football one would expect from these students of Wenger. In making his first appearance since breaking his leg in pre-season, Samir Nasri also impressed. The first goal, though, came from Merida, the teenager beating Cavalieri in the 20th minute with a shot that flew in off the inside of a post. [LNB] Young Gun: Fran Merida celebrates his stunning opener for Arsenal[LNB]Liverpool responded with a spectacular goal of their own, Insua unleashing a left-footed half-volley that looped over Lukasz Fabianski and just under the crossbar. It was the South American's first goal for Liverpool and quite a way for him to open his account.[LNB] Arsenal were nevertheless playing some wonderful stuff, with Ramsey at the heart of it and showing maturity beyond his 18 years. He was full of confidence and so composed, even when faced with the towering figure of Damien Plessis.[LNB] Five minutes after the break, Bendtner scored what turned out to be the winner. Completing a move that began with Eastmond and continued via Merida and Nasri, a surge of acceleration took Bendtner past the ponderous Skrtel before he drove it into the net.[LNB] ARSENAL (4-3-3): Fabianski; Gilbert, Senderos, Silvestre, Gibbs; Ramsey, Eastmond (Randall 74min), Nasri; Bendtner (Watt 74), Eduardo, Merida (Coquelin 87). [LNB]LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Cavalieri; Degen (Ecclestone 88), Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua; Kuyt, Spearing, Plessis (Aquilani 77), Babel; Ngog (Benayoun 74), Voronin. [LNB]Man of the match: Aaron Ramsey. [LNB]Referee: Alan Wiley. [LNB] CARLING CUP LIVE: All the action from the fourth round - as it happenedArsenal boss Arsene Wenger has high hopes for Frantastic MeridaLiverpool boss Rafa Benitez is a survivor, says Arsene WengerARSENAL FC
