Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his young guns can go one
better than last season and win the Carling Cup.
Wenger's supremely-talented crop of young fringe players were
beaten finalists against Chelsea at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in
February.
But the manner in which they dispatched Blackburn at Ewood Park in
last night's 3-2 quarter-final victory has encouraged Wenger that
silverware beckons this time around.
"We want to finish the job now," said the Frenchman.
"We got a taste of the final last year and now we are in a
semi-final again.
"Beating Blackburn shows it was not a coincidence last year and we
now have two big games in the semi-final which will take up a lot
of energy."
Wenger admitted he would like to face Tottenham after his rookies
embarrassed their sworn enemies with a 5-3 aggregate success in
last season's semi-final.
What cannot be denied is that Arsenal are again on the march in a
competition which has had more than its fair share of detractors in
recent years.
Resting virtually every member of his first-choice starting line-up
for Carling Cup ties has led to accusations that Wenger is further
devaluing the much-maligned trophy.
But his young players continue to do themselves, their club and the
competition proud.
Mark Randall, an 18-year-old winger from Milton Keynes making his
third appearance in Arsenal's first team, showed rich promise
against Blackburn.
Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, 19, displayed a maturity which
belied his tender years, often proving too quick and too clever for
Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba.
Swiss defender Philippe Senderos, 22, skippered a side with an
average age of less than 21.
He told Arsenal TV online: "It was strange for me to be one of the
oldest.
"Eduardo was the oldest of all so we were having a laugh with him
about that because normally he is one of the youngest at 24.
"But these players have played in this competition and also played
in the Champions League last week.
"So we are getting stronger because we have the experience
now."
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho last year proposed that top
flight clubs should be allowed to field B teams in the Coca-Cola
Championship.
But Wenger was last night asked whether his second-string could
hold their own in the Barclays Premier League.
"It's difficult to say but they are all Premier League players,"
said Wenger.
"The quality is not questionable. The only thing you could question
is whether such a young side can last the whole season.
"But quality-wise it would certainly be no problem."
Perhaps the biggest plus for Wenger was the way his players not
only outclassed Blackburn, but matched them physically too.
"I always believe strongly in these players and I'm not surprised
by this result," said Wenger.
"It was a physical and a mental test during a big part of the game
and they stood up to it."
