Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal 2 West Brom 0: Mega-Watt is electric as Sanchez flicks the switch
Arsenal fans have yet another new generation of talent to cheer on in the Carling Cup as Arsene Wenger’s policy of using the competition as a proving ground paid off in controversial circumstances.
West Brom became the latest team to suffer due to Wenger’s youth policy as 18-year-old striker Sanchez Watt scored on his debut before substitute Carlos Vela made sure of Arsenal’s passage to the fourth round.
Their cause was aided by a first-half red card for former Arsenal youth-team player Jerome Thomas after a neck-high push on Jack Wilshere — although the young Arsenal midfielder certainly made the most of the foul.
Sanchez Watt
Opening strike: Sanchez Watt beats Dean Kiely
West Brom manager Roberto di Matteo claimed Thomas’s reaction had been provoked by something Wilshere said after being sent sprawling by a high elbow from his player.
‘It was a red card,’ conceded Di Matteo. ‘My player went to shake the Arsenal player’s hand and he refused and reacted. There was an exchange of words and then there was a reaction.
‘I know what was said, but I’m not saying that. I’m disappointed that Wilshere didn’t accept his hand. He wanted to help him get up, actually.
‘Anyway, that’s part of the game. I’m very proud of my players and my team. I’m not disappointed in my player. There was an exchange of words and he reacted. He reacted to what was said.’
Asked about the incident, Wenger said: ‘I don’t know. My eyes are not great and my ears are even worse. I couldn’t hear anything from the touchline. But he looked like he responded, reacted, and in these cases you always need to control your nerves. Has he any excuses or not? I don’t know. But Jack was upset as well. He said he was kicked.’
Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal blasts his fee kick over the West Bromwich Albion wall and the crossbar
Shooting star: Aaron Ramsey clattered Albion's bar with this free-kick
Controversies aside, the blossoming careers of Arsenal trio Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs continue to demonstrate that eye-catching performances in the Carling Cup remain the best way to work your way through the ranks at The Emirates. Watt and fellow debutants, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, forward Gilles Sunu and defender Kerrea Gilbert will get their chance to try and emulate that career path after dispensing with Di Matteo’s Championship leaders.
West Brom’s six changes from the side which crushed Middlesbrough 5-0 should do little to detract from Arsenal’s performance, Wenger’s starting line-up containing no less than eight teenagers.
West Brom's Jerome Thomas shoves Arsenal's Jack Wilshere in the face and is then sent off
Take that: West Brom's Jerome Thomas shoves Arsenal's Jack Wilshere in the face and is then sent off
The chances were evenly distributed in the early exchanges.
Philippe Senderos, playing his first game of the season, sent two headers wide while Watt was unfortunate to see his close-range effort rebound off the post and into the arms of a grateful Dean Kiely.
At the other end, Arsenal had Szczesny to thank for denying Simon Cox as his shot on the turn fizzed through the legs of Silvestre. The Pole was again called into action, this time to deny Robert Koren with an athletic dive to his right.
Off: Thomas goes, with Wilshere grounded
Off: Thomas goes, with Wilshere grounded
But with the visitors more than holding their own, Thomas’s loss of control left his side needing to play out 53 minutes with 10 men. The initial elbow from Thomas, a two-time FA Youth Cup winner with Arsenal, was high on Wilshere but his collapse was theatrical.
Expletives appeared to follow as Thomas’s handshake was refused. Still, there was no need for him to follow that up by pushing Wilshere in the neck. The hands came up to the face and referee Lee Mason chose to apply the letter of the law.
Arsenal took until the 68th minute to make their numerical advantage count. The introduction of Vela proved instrumental when Kiely was unable to gather his swerving strike —allowing Watt to steer in the rebound.
Progression to the next round, and another chance for some Carling Cup learning, was sealed when substitute Mark Randall sent a delicious lob on to the bar.
The confused Kiely was dispossessed by Vela who, while standing on the goal line, smashed the ball into the roof of the net with 15 minutes to go.
Wenger said: ‘When Carlos came on, he made a difference straight away. He’s dangerous in his control and his movement. His class. He can do something special.
‘It would have been a great game had it stayed 11 against 11, but we were patient,
played with cohesion and intelligence and the natural outcome was there.’
ARSENAL (4-3-3): Szczesny; Gilbert, Senderos, Silvestre, Gibbs; Ramsey, Coquelin
(Randall, 58mins), Wilshere; Watt, Sunu (Vela, 58), Traore (Barazite, 69).
WEST BROM (4-4-2): Kiely; Zuiverloon, Olsson (Meite, 80), Barnett, Jara; Thomas,
Dorrans, Koren, Teixeira; Moore (Wood, 74), Cox (Mulumbu, 61).
Sent off: Thomas.
Man of the match: Carlos Vela.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
