Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

Arsenal booked their place in the hat for the Quarter-Finals of the Carling Cup after a deserved 2-1 victory over Liverpool at the Emirates.

Both teams made lots of changes from their weekend lineups as Arsenal continued with the youngsters and a few experienced players. Liverpool did the same although it can be argued that the Liverpool line-up contained more first team players.

Liverpool had the first great chance of the game when a series of slick one touch passes led to right back Philip Degen being one on one with Fabianski, but he manages to somehow miss the target completely. Liverpool would pay for this miss as Arsenal dominated the next 15 minutes and deservedly took the lead through Merida. He scored with a powerful left-foot strike from 18 yards after 18-year-old Gunners debutant Craig Eastmond, who put in a promising display in central midfield, had won a tackle on the edge of the Reds box. This was after possibly the best move of the game consisting of fine passing by the Gunners sent Nicklas Bendtner through on goal, but he was caught in two minds and wasted the opportunity.

Liverpool hit back strongly though and replied soon after with a wonder goal of their own. Fullback Emiliano Insua chested the ball down before sending a dipping shot from 25 yards past keeper Lukasz Fabianski for his first Liverpool goal. It was a goal right from the blue and left Arsenal shaking as Liverpool then enjoyed a spell of domination, without really creating any chances though. Arsenal came back into it at the end of the half and could have been ahead when a swift Arsenal counter-attack, masterminded by the skill and vision of Aaron Ramsey provided an opening for Merida and, despite chipping a shot over on-rushing keeper Diego Cavalieri, Reds defender Martin Skrtel headed the danger away. Then, from a corner a melee ensued as Arsenal desperatley tried to scramble the ball into the net, but Liverpool managed to somehow hack it clear, before Bendtner shot straight at Cavalieri.
The teams went in at half time tied 1-1, but you could tell it would not end this way.

And early in the second half another fine Arsenal move ended with Gibbs playing the ball to Bendtner, who gave Cavalieri no chance by smashing the ball into the roof of the net from inside the box. Arsenal had the lead and this forced Liverpool to come out and attack again. They created several chances, most notably a shot from Voronin and a cross from Dirk Kuyt being agonisingly too strong for the disappointing Ryan Babel to get on the end of. If he had, it would surely have been 2-2.
Arsenal though were always a threat on the break and Eduardo almost rapped up the game when a fine piece of skill took two Liverpool defenders out of the game, before he dragged the ball just wide of the post. Sanchez Watt, on as a second half substitute could also have wrapped the game up, but he took too long and the chance was gone.
Liverpool’s Aquilani, making his debut for the club felt he should have had a penalty from a Senderos handball, but his claims were waved away.

The game ended 2-1 and Arsenal deservedly are through to the next round where they will surely face another difficult test.

Arsene Wenger said after the game: “Overall it was a game of top quality with two teams who really went for it, played at a high pace.
“We gave people what they paid for – top quality. The experienced players played well, so did the young players.
“Liverpool came back to 1-1, and we still managed to win, that shows we have also mental resources.”

Arsenal can face either Blackburn, Portsmouth, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham or Aston Villa in the quarter finals.