Young Gunners show their mettle

Manchester City 1 Arsenal 2

Wenger’s new deal commits him to Highbury, and Ashburton Grove, until 2008. By then some of the youngsters on show last night could be leading the Gunners and in Robin van Persie and 17-year-old Italian Arturo Lupoli, the future looks in safe hands.

Although most of the contest was largely forgettable, Lupoli gradually got into his stride and while 21-year-old Van Persie took time to show why Wenger compares him to Dennis Bergkamp, he eventually managed it.

It was Lupoli, who like Van Persie was making his first senior start, who set the young Dutchman up for the Gunners’ opener 13 minutes from time, Van Persie sweeping home a first-time shot.

Victory already seemed assured before a frantic period of stoppage time saw Daniel Karbassiyoon add a second and Robbie Fowler pull one back, although with no time to re-start the game, Arsenal’s place in the last 16 was never under threat.

It was almost half an hour before either side had a shot, a long-range effort for Shaun Wright-Phillips that Manuel Almunia, one of four debutants in the visitors’ line-up, collected at the second attempt.

Along with Willo Flood, Wright-Phillips was one of the two players on view who looked capable of lifting the game.

It was Antoine Sibierski though who provided the cushioned header from Danny Mills’ free-kick that set up Fowler a minute later.

Unfortunately for Fowler, he gave Seb Larsson the slip to stride into the box unopposed, then sent a half-volley bouncing harmlessly wide.

Arsenal, who spent most of the first-half trying to emulate the first choice side with a slick passing game without any success, briefly came to life as Lupoli advanced to the edge of the home box.

Eventually, Sylvain Distin closed him down, although the Frenchman was thankful the ball looped wide instead of into the net when Lupoli cannoned his shot straight at him.

City managed to carve out one more chance before the opening period ended, Sibierski getting between Arsenal defenders to force Almunia into the best save of the half.

Again in the second-half, both teams were largely consigned to speculative shots, with Wright-Phillips testing Almunia from long range, while Jermaine Pennant blazed wide at the other end.

Van Persie’s rushed attempt to convert Quincy Owusu-Abeyie’s cut-back flew way over the bar.

The Dutchman is clearly a quick learner though and after harshly being adjudged to have handled before delivering a cross-shot that Lupoli turned home after Waterreus had failed to collect cleanly, he made his decisive contribution. However, not even Fowler’s second goal in as many games cheered the home fans.

MAN CITY: Waterreus, Thatcher, Distin, Mills, Onuoha, Flood, D’Laryea (Bradley Wright-Phillips 79), Sibierski, Sinclair (Negouai 69), Shaun Wright-Phillips, Fowler, Negouai (Jordan 83).

ARSENAL: Almunia, Hoyte, Cygan, Senderos, Larsson, Pennant (Djourou 89), Fabregas, Flamini, Smith (Owusu-Abeyie 61), Van Persie, Lupoli (Karbassiyoon 82).

Ref: P Walton.