Burnley-Arsenal: Arsene Wenger's Kids Put to Bed in Carling Cup Quarterfinals

On Tuesday night at a packed Turf Moor, an Arsenal side made up pretty much of the club's academy players crashed out of the Carling Cup at the quarterfinal stage.

Take nothing away from Burnley, who played a superb game. As they say, you can only beat what is put in front of you.

Having already knocked out Fulham and Chelsea, Owen Coyle got his tactics spot on yet again as Burnley set about harassing Arsenal and marked some key players out of the game. At times the Championship side rode their luck, but they were more than a match for the Gunners who didn't take opportunities when they arose, with Nicholas Bendtner being particularly wasteful.

The teams lined up as follows:

Burnley: Jensen, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Alexander, Blake, McDonald, McCann, Eagles, Paterson

Arsenal: Fabianski, Rodgers, Hoyte, Silvestre, Gibbs, Randall, Ramsey, Merida, Wilshere, Bendtner, Vela

The 19-year-old defender Paul Rodgers made a surprise debut for the North London side, with some suggesting that Wenger was putting the Englishman in the shop window, having been unable to find him a club. He was replaced after 45 minutes by Henri Lansbury after getting a torrid time from the Burnley forwards.

The game was not even 10 minutes old when Burnley hit the front.

Chris Eagles floated over a wonderful cross that Fabianski failed to collect allowing Kevin McDonald to slot home.

Arsenal then had a fair share of chances through Bendtner, Vela, and Randall, who all spurned their opportunities while at the other end Fabianski got down well to deny Martin Paterson.

The second half was barely underway when Mark Randall summed up his night by getting a yellow card for a clumsy tackle on McDonald. Randall had a game to forget for Arsenal were he seemed to over-try things and many were surprised to see Wenger bringing off Wilshere instead of Randall.

Then again it was after nine o'clock. Somebody's bedtime!

A wonderful move by Fran Merida—the next Cesc Fabregas apparently—almost led to the equaliser. He cut in from the last before floating past two defenders only to see his curl go just wide.

Five minutes later and the home side were 2-0 to the good with McDonald scoring his second of the night, having out-muscled Randall and curling the ball around the Polish keeper with the outside of his foot.

From then on both sides created a few chances without much materialising, and Burnley held on to deservedly go through to the semifinals.

Before the game Wenger wanted to know what his youngsters were made of. While they played some great football, they just could not finish off their moves.

The Frenchman will have learnt that Paul Rodgers may find it tough to get a club, that Mark Randall needs to go back out on loan, and that the only use for Nicholas Bendtner's pink boots is to kick him up the arse so he can produce the quality he has a little more often.

Expect to see some of the Arsenal squad that played tonight go out on loan, with Steve Bruce's Wigan coming knocking on the door. Also expect to see Fran Merida in the future.

But for now the Carling Cup is over for the kids and it is time for them to get some well-earned rest and not to be out past their bedtime. Credit to these young guys; they have given some good performances and can hold their heads up high.

As for Burnley: Go on lads, win the Cup! Ye deserve it!