Arsenal booked a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup with a deserved 2-0 victory over Newcastle United.
Goals from Bendtner and Denilson seal win
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal booked a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup with a deserved 2-0 victory over Newcastle United.
Late goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson sealed the win for The Gunners, in a thoroughly entertaining game at Emirates Stadium.
Newcastle created the first decent chance of the game when Obafemi Martins met a Jose Sanchez Enrique cross. The Nigerian headed goalwards but debutant goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski reacted well to deny the striker.
The Gunners then carved out a decent opportunity when excellent work by Armand Traore saw the youngster deliver an inviting cross, however Bendtner's header flew just over the crossbar.
Surging
On 25 minutes Emmanuel Eboue dinked a looping ball towards the back post leaving Shay Given in no-mans land, but an Arsenal player failed to smash home.
Philippe Senderos then got himself in a muddle when he lost track of a long ball. Martins pounced, but to the relief of the Switzerland international, the striker blazed his shot over.
In the 35th minute Lassana Diarra slipped Eduardo da Silva through but Given denied the Croatian with some excellent reading of the game.
Eboue led the next Arsenal attack with a surging run. He hit a low drive from the edge of the area towards goal but Given got down well to save to his left.
Just before the break Theo Walcott spurned a superb chance when he sprinted through only to dawdle on the ball before the Newcastle defenders came rushing back to deny the teenager.
Stunning
Early in the second half Given was called into action twice in quick succession. First from Diarra when the Frenchman saw a low strike saved, and then from Eboue whose smashed shot was blocked expertly by the Irishman.
The Gunners were then inches away from taking the lead. Senderos powered a header at goal but Charles N'Zogbia, positioned to Given's right, cleared off the line.
With seven minutes remaining Bendtner stepped up to put the Gunners ahead. Traore swung in a delightful cross and the towering striker thundered a header home.
Straight from kick-off Martins sped through, rounded Fabianski and rolled his shot towards goal, however Senderos stormed back to slide brilliantly off the line.
Denilson then sealed the win with a stunning strike. The Brazilian's shot soared past a static Given into the top right-hand corner to send the Emirates faithful into raptures.
