Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-1 to reach Carling Cup qu

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Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-1 to reach Carling Cup quarters

LONDON: Arsenal''s young stars dazzled in the League Cup once again as the Gunners reached the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Liverpool, while Chelsea and Manchester City also romped through on Wednesday.

Arsene Wenger uses the League Cup as his training ground for each crop of youngsters emerging from the academy and the Arsenal manager looks to have found another gem or two judging by their victory at the Emirates Stadium.

Spanish teenager Fran Merida announced his arrival on the big stage in impressive style when he netted his first Arsenal goal in the 19th minute.

The 19-year-old former Barcelona midfielder drilled in a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Emiliano Insua drew Liverpool level in the 26th minute with his first goal for the Reds - a blistering 25-yard volley.

But Nicklas Bendtner, 21, produced a powerful finish after 50 minutes to put Arsenal into the last eight in Wenger''s 750th game in charge of Arsenal.

The only bright spot for Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was a brief cameo appearance from Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who was finally fit to come off the bench in the closing stages for his long-waited debut after his pre-season move from Roma.

Chelsea cruised through with a 4-0 victory over Bolton at Stamford Bridge despite resting the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech.

First-half goals from Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda put the home side in command before Deco and substitute Didier Drogba finished off Gary Megson''s side after the break.

Manchester City destroyed Scunthorpe 5-1 at Eastlands as Roque Santa Cruz scored his first goal for Mark Hughes'' team.

Stephen Ireland got City''s early opener but Scunthorpe hit back with a Jonathan Forte equaliser in the 26th minute.

Once Santa Cruz restored City''s lead with a 38th minute header there was only going to be one winner.

Joleon Lescott increased City''s lead in the 56th minute before Carlos Tevez netted after 71 minutes. Michael Johnson, on as a substitute, added City''s fifth in the 77th minute.

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Arsenal crashes Liverpool 2-1

LONDON: A young Arsenal side Thursday night beat seven time League Cup Champions Liverpool 2-1 in an absorbing Carling Cup fourth round tie at the Emirates stadium.

Fran Merida thundered in an 18-yard shot to put Arsenal ahead early in the first half as Liverpool''s Emiliano Insua equalized 6 minutes later with a superb 25-yard dipping strike.

Nickolas Bendtner shot into the roof of the net in the second half to secure Arsenals place in the last eight.

At the Stamford Bridge, Saloman Kalou gave the home side the lead, Florent Malouda scored the second, A low drive from Deco sealed the victory and a header from substitute Didier Drogba rounded it off in style.

The 4-0 score line serves as testimony to a strong, cohesive performance from what was largely Chelsea''s second string team.

In another tie of the night Manchester City cruised to a 5-1 victory over championship side Scunthorpe. In the mid week Serie A tie Juventus made it two wins on the bounce with a thumping 5-1 win over Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico.

Amauri ,Giorgio Chiellini, Mauro Camoranesi and substitute David Trezeguet scored the goals as Juventus produced their best performance of the season to leapfrog Sampdoria, for whom Giampaolo Pazzini grabbed a consolation, into second place.

And in tennis, Serena Williams will finish the year as world number one after Dinara Safina withdrew due to a back injury from the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.

The Wimbledon champion Williams later won her second match of the tournament, defeating her older sister Venus 5-7 6-4 7-6.

Serena only had to win one more match than Russia''s Safina to overtake her in the rankings.