Krul (og) 45 + 2

                                                                                                                            Walcott 53, 88  

                                                                                                                           Bendtner 84

An understrength Arsenal powered to a convincing Carling Cup victory over an understrength Newcastle United at St James’s Park.

Arsenal started brilliantly, creating four clear-cut chances in the first five minutes.

But they had to rely on comedy and controversy to break the deadlock before finishing almost as strongly.

Carlos Vela, Nicolas Bendtner, twice, and Emanuel Eboue forced Newcastle keeper Tim Krul into early action as Arsenal threatened to run riot.

But Newcastle’s Alan Smith came closest to scoring, with a 30-yard drive tipped onto the crossbar by Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny, before Arsenal scored in first-half stoppage time, Ryan Taylor’s goalline clearance from Bendtner’s header hitting Krul on the back of his head and rolling into the net.

Theo Walcott doubled Arsenal’s advantage on 53 minutes, racing clear to dink the ball over Krul while an offside Bendtner crashed into the nearest Toon defender Mike Williamson.

Newcastle introduced Andy Carroll, Jonas Gutierrez and Joey Barton in a bid to chase the game.

But Arsenal introduced Cesc Fabregas, who set up Nicolas Bendtner to thump a right-foot shot past Krul on 84 minutes.

And Walcott completed the scoring four minutes later, sprinting onto Laurent Koscielny’s pass and drilling his shot past Krul.