Teenager Fran Merida netted his first Arsenal goal as Arsene
Wenger's young Gunners beat Liverpool 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals
of the Carling Cup.
Just back from the Under-20 World Cup with Spain, the 19-year-old
former Barcelona trainee drilled in a fine first-half strike as
Wenger's faith in youth was once again justified.
Nicklas Bendtner, himself only 21 but now a regular in the side,
produced a powerful finish after 50 minutes to put Arsenal into
the last eight after Emiliano Insua had equalised.
As expected, Wenger had shaken things up in the team selection
for his 750th game at the helm, naming an entirely different starting
XI from the one which let a 2-0 lead slip during the closing stages
at West Ham in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.
There was, though, a more experienced look to this Gunners team,
with veteran Mickael Silvestre captaining the side at the ripe old
age of 32, while French midfielder Samir Nasri made his first appearance
of the season after recovering from a fractured leg, while Croatia
striker Eduardo was also in the team.
Only Dirk Kuyt, the Reds captain for the night, remained from the
Liverpool side which had defeated Manchester United - although there
was a welcome place on the bench for Alberto Aquilani, who had yet
to play following his big-money summer move from Roma.
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