City spike Arsenal´s young guns

Carlos Tevez, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Vladimir Weiss were all on target as Manchester City beat Arsenal 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the English League Cup at Eastlands here on Wednesday.

After a tense opening period, Tevez put City in front four minutes after the break before Wright-Phillips added a second midway through the second half.

Substitute Weiss then made sure of victory as City moved closer to winning a first major trophy since they won the League Cup in 1976.

Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor was always going to receive plenty of abuse from his old club’s fans after the furore of City’s 4-2 league win at Eastlands in September.

Adebayor was banned for a challenge on Robin van Persie but escaped censure for celebrating in front of the visiting fans after scoring for his new club.

The Togo forward went close on Wednesday to giving City the lead when he rose to head Gareth Barry’s corner and was only denied by a fine low save from Lukasz Fabianksi.

But, as always, Arsenal’s youthful side, which featured nine changes from the team beaten 3-0 by Chelsea at the weekend, looked more than comfortable with the ball.

Jack Wilshere laid on a good opportunity for Aaron Ramsey only for the Welshman to be blocked by another former Arsenal player, Kolo Toure.

But City were continuing to create the better openings and after Wright-Phillips robbed Mikael Silvestre and crossed, Craig Bellamy should have given the hosts the lead but failed to hit the target from 10 yards.

Wilshere was Arsenal’s creative force once again as he worked an opening for Carlos Vela only for the Spanish youngster to prod over the bar under pressure from Joleon Lescott.

But Argentinian Carlos Tevez threatened once again for City with a powerful run past Silvestre and a thumping shot that was only palmed away by Fabianski, with the home team claiming it hit Silvestre’s hand.

As both teams continued to attack, Emmanuel Eboue beat Wayne Bridge and his powerful shot was gathered at the second attempt by Shay Given.

But City took just four minutes after the restart to go in front.

Tomas Rosicky was closed down and robbed by Bellamy, who fed Tevez.

The former Manchester United forward ran in-field and cut past Eboue and Alex Song before drilling a shot off the under-side of the bar and into the far corner for his fourth goal for City.

Arsenal were desperate for a quick response and Rosicky angled a header wide of goal from Fran Merida’s corner before Ramsey lifted a shot over the bar after being played through by Vela.

Adebayor could have made the game safe after racing on to Bellamy’s cross from the left but stabbed wide under pressure from Fabianksi, who was forced into a decent save from a Bellamy free-kick as the hour mark approached.

But Wright-Phillips put the game beyond the Gunners with a wonderful second goal with 20 minutes remaining.

The England winger broke from half-way and, with Silvestre backing off, hit a fierce drive into the top corner to double the lead.

And after more fine work from Bellamy down the left flank, he sent over a cross that was touched in from close range by Slovakia international Weiss.