Arsenal young guns beat Toon

Arsenal's impressive start to the season just keeps on going and going, as a very young Arsenal team battled to beat Newcastle's first XI 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium tonight in the Carling Cup.

Goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson in the last ten minutes sealed the result, and a young-looking Arsenal side were certainly not out of their league against a Newcastle team that fielded most of their first team, despite injury duo Michael Owen and Mark Viduka.

Speaking of the excellent performance tonight, Arsene Wenger said, "I thought it was a very good game of very good pace. In the first half Newcastle defended very high and slowing we took over, and in the second half it was all us. Many times we should have scored a goal and didn't, but we were good and intelligent - and I like that. We didn't make a rushing mistake, going all forward and getting caught on the counter-attack.

"I must say the game was of the same level that we have played recently, with the players who did not play tonight. You see that the style of play - there is a continuity there and we have all kinds of good players in every position."

This was a wonderful performance in which the youngsters dominated their more experienced visitors throughout the second half and thoroughly deserved their two-goal win.

Arsenal's young striker Bendtner was particularly impressive on a night where these kind of matches bring excellent experience for the young players. Traore, also, was impressive down the left flank and Lassana Diarra proved why Arsenal paid £2 million for him.

With eight minutes left, the first goal came, a superb cross from Armand Traore was put nicely into the path of Bendtner who headed the ball firmly home.

Newcastle almost brought an immediate reaction as Obafemi Martins rounded the impressive Lukas Fabianski and shot, but Philippe Senderos recovered well to clear the ball of the line.

The result was sealed in the last couple of minutes as Diaby took the ball to the edge of the area, skillfully touched past a few players before teeing the ball up nicely for Denilson, who struck the ball first time delightfully into the top corner from distance.

Arsenal, in truth, dominated most of the game, and Arsene Wenger will enjoy getting one over his old rival Sam Allardyce this early on in the season.