Carling Cup Result: West Brom 2-4 Cardiff

	West Brom 2 - 4 Cardiff 4' 0 - 1 Robbie Fowler 23' 0 - 2 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 27' 0 - 3 Robbie Fowler (pen) 30' 0 - 4 Trevor Sinclair 33' Ishmael Miller 1 - 4 87' Ishmael Miller (pen) 2 - 4
2		4

West Brom were dumped out of the Carling Cup 4-2 as Cardiff's old guard ran riot in their third round tie at The Hawthorns.

Robbie Fowler opened the scoring after only four minutes, before Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink unleashed an unstoppable second from fully 30 yards midway through the first half.

Baggies fans were left shell-shocked as Fowler grabbed his second from the penalty spot and Trevor Sinclair got in on the act to put the visitors 4-0 up inside the opening half an hour.

Ishmael Miller grabbed a brace for Albion either side of the break to put a respectable slant on the scoreline, but it was not enough to prevent Cardiff claiming their first away win over West Brom since 1957.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray rang the changes for the tie, resting seven players who were included in Albion's starting line-up for Saturday's 3-2 victory over Scunthorpe.

Cardiff, however, fielded an almost identical side to the one held at home by Preston, Paul Parry the only casualty after Glenn Loovens completed his recovery from a foot injury.

And the decision to field a near full-strength XI paid dividends almost immediately as Fowler netted his third goal in two games for the South Wales club.

Stephen McPhail broke free down the left wing and whipped in an inviting cross for the ex-Liverpool striker, who swept the ball into the top corner from 12 yards out.

The strike ended Albion's impressive record of over nine hours without conceding at The Hawthorns, and the home side's reponse would have left Mowbray fuming.

Gavin Rae cut in from the right and fed Hasselbaink, who turned quickly before firing a powerful effort into the top corner from distance.

Fowler added a third from the penalty spot just four minutes later after defender Shelton Martis brought down Joe Ledley in the area.

Matters went from bad to worse for Baggies as Sinclair popped up to fire home from close range, before Miller gave the hosts some hope at the break with a well-taken effort after Craig Beattie's shot rebounded off a post.

Mowbray was forced to adopt a new gameplan at the interval and both Jonathan Greening and Andrade Filipe Teixeira were introduced to add an attacking element.

And the changes almost bore fruit within the opening three minutes of the second half as Teixeira fired wide from six yards when he really should have scored.

Chris Brunt was next to try his luck with a great free-kick that drifted narrowly wide as Albion looked for a quick route back into the game.

As the half wore on, the hosts threw more bodies forward and both Brunt and Martin Albrechtsen could only watch as their efforts were kept out by a resilient Cardiff defence.

The home side were doing all the pressing in the closing stages, and Miller deservedly grabbed his and Albion's second of the night from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Chris Gunter.

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Carling Cup Result: Sheff Utd 5-0 Morecambe: Shrimps run over

	Sheffield United 5 - 0 Morecambe 18' Billy Sharp 1 - 0 33' Billy Sharp 2 - 0 52' Luton Shelton 3 - 0 67' Lee Hendrie 4 - 0 72' Luton Shelton 5 - 0
5		0

Sheffield United succeeded where other Championship sides had failed by easing past competition giant-killers Morecambe 5-0 to book their place in the Carling Cup fourth round.

Strikers Billy Sharp and Luton Shelton each hit a double in a domineering Blades display with returning midfielder Lee Hendrie adding to the rout.

Former Manchester United team-mates Bryan Robson and Sammy McIlroy were pitted against each other as Morecambe went in search of their third Championship scalp of the competition, having already seen off the challenges of Wolves and Preston.

But the pattern of the game was established early on with the hugely-impressive Shelton producing the initial spark, jinking through three Morecambe defenders on the edge of the area before being narrowly dispossessed.

The breakthrough did not take long and came in the 18th minute along with the game's first shot on goal. Shelton demonstrated excellent close control in guiding the ball through a trio of Morecambe players on the edge of the box before nudging to his left and finding Sharp, who rattled home left-footed into the roof of the net.

Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny had to be on his guard for a curling free-kick from Carl Baker, but was barely troubled in tipping around the post, as Morecambe attempted to regain a hold on the tie.

But with Sharp in bullish mood, it was always going to be a tall order and the marksman struck his second 10 minutes before the break.

Derek Geary provided the lofted ball from the right flank which Sharp took on the bounce, before shuffling around his marker and banging in off the crossbar with a solid drive. After a unproductive first-half, Morecambe began the second period with renewed optimism and quickly set about finding a way to slice through a sturdy Blades defence. Matthew Blinkhorn, playing at the front of a five-man midfield, should have done better when he found himself in some space in the area, but failed to make a true connection.

And any early signs of a shock comeback were dashed after just five minutes of the restart, with United's third. Stephen Quinn planted a direct ball through the centre which caught everyone off guard except the unmarked Shelton who took the ball around Joe Lewis and slotted home with style.

From here on, there seemed only one likely winner and despite some neat Morecambe build-up play, they lacked the Blades' cutting edge.

Shelton, in particularly remained ever-dangerous and he saw two long-range efforts turned away by goalkeeper Lewis in quick succession.

Hendrie, back in the side for the first time since receiving knee surgery, should have made it four in the 65th minute after Lewis denied Sharp his hat-trick, but the midfield man blasted over from the edge of the box.

But he soon made amends when he was gifted the ball from eight yards out and took time in picking his spot before nailing the ball into the bottom right-corner.

The floodgates opened as Morecambe heads dropped and Shelton netted his second of the evening in the 74th minute.

The Jamaican easily turned his man on the edge of the penalty box and had ample time to pick his corner and place a sweet, curling effort past Lewis. United continued to press and could have feasibly doubled their tally were it not for the sharp reflexes of Lewis.

The Shrimps battled until the end, but Blinkhorn's low effort six minutes from time was the closest they ever came to penetrating.

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Carling Cup Result: Reading 2-4 Liverpool: Torres hits treble

	Reading 2 - 4 Liverpool 23' 0 - 1 Yossi Benayoun 28' Bobby Convey 1 - 1 50' 1 - 2 Fernando Torres 64' John Halls 2 - 2 72' 2 - 3 Fernando Torres 86' 2 - 4 Fernando Torres
2		4

Fernando Torres hit a second-half hat-trick to earn Liverpool a 4-2 win and a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup and send a timely reminder to coach Rafael Benitez.

Benitez had left the Spanish striker, signed for £24million from Atletico Madrid in the summer, out of the starting line-up for their last two Barclays Premier League matches.

But he returned with a vengeance to kill off battling Reading in a six-goal thriller at the Madejski Stadium.

Liverpool, unbeaten in nine games this season, made nine changes to the side which drew with Birmingham 0-0 at the weekend. Only captain Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa survived from that team.

Reading made eight changes to the side which defeated Wigan 2-1 with Nicky Shorey, James Harper and Michael Duberry the only ones to retain their places.

There was no hint of the drama to come after a disappointing opening to the tie. Reading should have gone ahead in the 20th minute when a cross from John Halls fell perfectly for Leroy Lita on the edge of the six-yard box.

But the Reading striker failed to beat Liverpool's debutant goalkeeper Charles Itandje who collected his downward header with ease.

Liverpool went ahead in the 23rd minute thanks to a magnificent piece of individual skill from Yossi Benayoun. He went on a solo run and beat Andre Bikey on the edge of the penalty area before firing a right-footed shot into the roof of the net.

However, the lead was shortlived as Reading were level in the 27th minute through Bobby Convey.

A corner from Nicky Shorey appeared to have been cleared by Momo Sissoko's header but the ball fell invitingly for Convey and his angled volley found its way into the corner of the net.

Torres, who had required lengthy treatment in the opening minute after a tackle by Bikey, went down again under a challenge from Duberry in the 34th minute.

But he managed to run off the knock to his left ankle once more as Liverpool attempted to restore their advantage.

However, it was Reading who almost stole the lead before the break and again it was Convey who provided the threat.

He looked certain to score his second of the game when the ball fell to him on the edge of the six-yard box but this time the Reading winger's volley was superbly saved by Itandje.

Liverpool spurned a real chance to restore their lead in the 48th minute when Torres set up Sebastian Leto but the Reds defender sent his shot wide of the far post.

But the Merseysiders were back in front a minute later when Leto sent Torres through the middle with a slide-rule pass.

The Spaniard made no mistake as he slipped the ball beyond Federici and into the corner of the net for the first of his terrific treble.

Moments later Bikey was booked for a foul on Torres as the Spaniard attempted to show him a clean pair of heels.

Torres probably did not think he would be taking part in the Carling Cup when he signed for the Reds in the summer but after being rested for Liverpool's last two Barclays Premier league games, he was clearly in the mood to send the right message to Benitez.

The Spanish superstar may have found his omission hard to reconcile but the goal took his tally for the season to four in six starts.

But while Torres was displaying all the reasons why Liverpool paid out £24million for him, Reading were far from finished.

In the 64th minute Liverpool failed to deal with another Reading corner adequately enough and when the ball fell to Halls, his quick footwork allowed him to send a low shot into the corner of the net for their second equaliser of the night.

But Torres struck for a second time in the 70th minute when he converted a low cross from substitute John Arne Riise to restore Liverpool's lead.

The Spaniard was now in his element and four minutes from the end he capped a superb performance with his hat-trick.

England midfielder Steven Gerrard, on as a late substitute, put Torres in the clear and he kept his cool to round Federici and slot the ball into the waiting net.

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Carling Cup Result: Man City 1-0 Norwich: Samaras at the death

	Manchester City 1 - 0 Norwich 90' Georgios Samaras 1 - 0
1		0

Forgotten man Georgios Samaras provided the perfect answer to his many detractors as he slotted home a last-gasp Carling Cup winner for Manchester City against Norwich.

Not even offered a place on the bench by Sven-Goran Eriksson so far this season, the £6million Stuart Pearce signing would surely have been sold in August had a suitable buyer been found.

Instead, despite interest from Middlesbrough, Samaras opted to stay at Eastlands and fight for his place.

The battle will not be an easy one to win but the Greek forward started in the best manner possible, finishing off Kelvin Etuhu's superb through ball to ensure the Premier League high-flyers overcame a determined Norwich side who scrapped throughout but never really looked like causing a shock.

Not that City were that good. With only three chances of any note, the hosts seemed set to be taken into extra-time until Samaras found his range, charging clear of the Canaries defence to set the Blues fans chirping.

City have not been in the top four for very long but Eriksson has quickly adopted the same Carling Cup strategy as England's Champions League contenders.

The Swede assured everyone he was taking the competition - the last major trophy City have won - seriously, then promptly dropped nine of his starting line-up from the weekend draw at Fulham.

Only skipper Richard Dunne and midfielder Stephen Ireland remained and both men, for differing reasons, had missed the previous weekend's win over Aston Villa.

It quickly became apparent most of City's attacks would come through Brazilian midfielder Geovanni, who has flitted in and out of Eriksson's first-choice line-up this season and whose most notable contribution so far was the derby-day winner against United.

Unfortunately, his efforts met with little success during a truly awful opening period.

Indeed, the nearest City came to breaking the deadlock was from one of the free-kicks Geovanni did not take, Michael Ball curling an effort towards the top corner which David Marshall unconvincingly fumbled away.

At the other end, England Under-21 international Joe Hart was somewhat more certain of his angles as he flew to his left to steer a 20-yard Jon Otsemobor free-kick away from danger.

And that, in terms of goalmouth action, was more or less it apart from one Samaras shot.

When Stuart Pearce's two and a bit years as manager is assessed, Samaras' name will always crop up. The Greek forward was the uncut diamond Pearce hoped would eventually shine.

But, after an initial bright start to his Blues career, the investment in Samaras was proved to be particularly unwise.

Offered a previously non-existent chance to shine, Samaras flitted about to little effect as he has done for most of his time with the Eastlands outfit.

However, he did find himself in a bit of space on the half hour, enough to send a low effort curling towards the Norwich goal which Marshall pushed away.

Amid the huge number of youngsters who have graduated from the City academy, some have not quite made the grade.

Winger Lee Croft is one of that number and in his anxiety to impress against his old club, struggled to make an impact.

Yet he could quite easily have put Norwich in front when he benefited from a dubious onside call as he strode on to Otsemobor's touchline pass.

Despite the tightness of the angle, Croft really should have gone for goal himself. Instead he tried to find Jamie Cureton with a square ball and one-time team-mate Nedum Onuoha slid in to clear.

The lack of entertainment was summed up midway through the second period when Norwich manager Peter Grant controlled a punt out of play on his chest and began an impromptu keepie-uppie session which earned the biggest cheer of the entire night.

City substitute Etuhu wasted an opportunity to mark his debut with a winner, while Rolando Bianchi was also off target with a snap-shot as the clock ticked down.

But there was still time for a winner as Etuhu produced the pin-point pass which allowed Samaras to send City into the last 16.

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Carling Cup Result: Luton 3-1 Charlton: Hatters cause a shock

	Luton 3 - 1 Charlton 4' 0 - 1 Dean Sinclair 43' Steve Robinson 1 - 1 105' Matthew Spring 2 - 1 117' Drew Talbot 3 - 1
3		1

Matthew Spring's bullet header and a tidy finish from Drew Talbot in extra time gave Kevin Blackwell's Luton side a superb 3-1 win over Charlton to continue their fine Carling Cup run.

The League One side knocked out Premier League side Sunderland in the last round and came from behind to see off their Championship opposition in a pulsating third-round tie at Kenilworth Road.

The Addicks dominated the first half after going ahead in the fourth minute through Dean Sinclair until Steve Robinson's brilliant intervention in the 43rd minute brought the sides level.

The Hatters then had the best of an end-to-end second 45 minutes before the mightily impressive Spring buried an unstoppable header and substitute Talbot capitalised on a defensive error to score deep into extra time.

Charlton boss Alan Pardew made 10 changes from the side which beat Leicester 2-0 at the weekend with central defender Madjid Bougherra the only player retaining his place.

But his patched-up side took just four minutes to open the scoring with the first attack of the match. Izale McLeod broke clear down the left and floated over a deft cross which was met by a powerful header from Bulgaria striker Svetoslav Todorov.

The ball squirmed through Hatters goalkeeper Dean Brill's legs and was turned in on a crowded goal line by Sinclair.

McLeod should have doubled the lead on the half-hour mark when he was played clean through by Todorov but fired wastefully wide.

And minutes later Robinson made the former MK Dons striker pay when he majestically volleyed into the top corner after David Bell's corner was headed clear.

The home side started the second period brightly and after Spring saw his goal-bound drive well blocked by Patrick McCarthy, veteran Paul Furlong went close after a solo run from the halfway line.

An inspired piece of skill from Todorov then sent Darren Ambrose clear at the other end.

The former Portsmouth man took down a high ball at full stretch before flicking the ball through a defender's legs and playing a perfectly-weighted pass all in one movement but Ambrose lashed wide from the edge of the area.

McLeod - always looking to receive possession - then cut inside from the right but again fired well wide before Pardew introduced Luke Varney into the fray.

And the £2.5million man instantly posed a threat when he darted inside Richard Jackson to collect Sinclair's pin-point pass but he was smothered by a fantastic tackle from former Valley favourite Chris Perry.

The game was being played at breakneck pace and McVeigh fashioned a chance at the other end when he skilfully nutmegged Yassin Moutaouakil and crossed but McCarthy did well to clear from the waiting Dean Morgan.

Ambrose then thought he had won it in stoppage time but the back-pedalling Brill managed to palm his looping header over from under the crossbar.

McLeod had the first chance of extra time but once more his finishing failed to match the rest of his play.

He span away from Bougherra brilliantly after Varney's flick-on but curled the ball a yard wide of the far post.

And former Crewe striker Varney was left to curse his luck five minutes later when McLeod played him in but Brill somehow turned his venomous volley over the bar from point-blank range.

It was a phenomenal stop and the Hatters had the lead for the first time of the night seconds later in the 104th minute.

Substitute Darren Currie tormented Moutaouakil down the left before whipping in a great cross which Spring attacked with real purpose on the six-yard line to plant his header low beyond Darren Randolph.

And Talbot booked the Hatters' place in round four in the 117th minute when Bougherra slipped in possession 30 yards from goal to allow him a clear run on goal and he coolly slipped the ball under Randolph and in off the far post.

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Carling Cup Result: Burnley 0-1 Portsmouth: Nugent eases pressure

	Burnley 0 - 1 Portsmouth 69' 0 - 1 David Nugent
0		1

David Nugent went some way towards relieving the pressure which has built since his £6million summer move to Portsmouth by striking the only goal in the Carling Cup third round at Turf Moor.

Nugent's 69th minute strike past Burnley keeper Gabor Kiraly was only his second goal since arriving at Fratton Park and drew furious protests from the home side, who claimed the striker had handled Pedro Mendes' cross before firing home.

But that will not matter to Nugent, whose boss Harry Redknapp had indicated he would be willing to offload the striker for the right offer a matter of weeks after he had joined the club from Preston.

Redknapp must have felt like leaving Nugent in the north west after his first-half howler when he raced clear only to see his attempted audacious nutmeg of keeper Kiraly fail miserably.

But Nugent struck back with a fine low finish to maintain Pompey's interest in a competition which, having made 10 changes from the win at Blackburn 48 hours earlier, is clearly low on Redknapp's priority list.

Sylvain Distin was the only survivor from the Ewood Park success and he was the busiest Pompey player early on, twice being called upon to make timely interceptions to deny the lively Ade Akinbiyi.

Portsmouth belatedly got a grip on proceedings in the 18th minute, when Nugent sprang the offside trap to race onto Mendes' through-ball, but was caught out trying to nutmeg the upright Kiraly instead of shooting.

Moments later, a similar ball sent Nugent the chance to go clear on the keeper again, but hesitation by the striker allowed Steve Jordan to get back with a superb sliding challenge in the box.

Akinbiyi injected some spice into a tepid affair by reacting angrily to the attentions of Noe Pamarot as the pair waited for a Burnley free-kick, but referee Mark Clattenburg sensibly took no action.

In-form Burnley had their best chance in the 33rd minute when Alan Mahon sent in a fine corner from the right and Steven Caldwell rose at the far post, only to see his point-blank header blocked by Ashdown.

A swift Pompey counter-attack almost led to their opener in the 37th minute when Benjani Mwaruwari set up Taylor, whose low drive was well parried by Gabor Kiraly before the home side cleared.

Four minutes before the break, Akinbiyi missed another chance to put the Clarets in front when he rose highest to meet a Mahon corner but steered his header straight at Jamie Ashdown.

Pompey looked most likely to break the deadlock at the start of the second half. Substitute John Utaka's shot was blocked in a crowded box and Noe Pamarot was inches away from connecting with a Nugent ball across the face of goal.

For Burnley, Mahon, who had been the architect of the majority of the home side's threatening moves from the start, attempted a long-range shot on the hour which sailed harmlessly over Ashdown's bar.

Then, as the home side belatedly stirred, Kyle Lafferty hit an on-target shot which was saved by the Pompey keeper and Akinbiyi completely missed what would have been a spectacular volley on the end of Jordan's dipping cross.

But just as Burnley began to threaten, Nugent struck with a goal which squeezed in off Kiraly's right-hand post and prompted furious but futile protests from the home side over the alleged handball.

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Carling Cup Result: Blackpool 2-1 Southend: Jacko's thriller finish

	Blackpool 2 - 1 Southend 7' 0 - 1 Matt Harrold (pen) 81' Wesley Hoolahan 1 - 1 118' Michael Jackson 2 - 2
2		1

Blackpool captain Michael Jackson came off the bench to seal a 2-1 extra-time victory over Southend and send the Seasiders into the last 16 of the Carling Cup for the first time in 34 years.

Manager Simon Grayson rested six players for the newly-promoted Championship side and almost paid for it as Southend, who knocked out Manchester United to reach last season's quarter-finals, looked set for another fourth-round appearance following Matt Harrold's sixth-minute penalty.

But Blackpool striker Scott Vernon struck an 81st-minute equaliser to spare the Championship side's blushes and take the game into extra-time.

Defender Jackson was then belatedly brought into the fray and with a penalty shoot-out looming, stabbed home the winner three minutes from time.

Southend, who swapped places with Blackpool last season, came into the game with high spirits after winning their last three League One matches and made just one change, with striker Charlie MacDonald coming in for the cup-tied Leon Clarke.

And MacDonald made his presence felt after just six minutes, winning the penalty from which Southend opened the scoring.

Tommy Black played a neat ball through for the summer signing from Ebbsfleet, who was brought down by goalkeeper Rhys Evans, and Harrold stepped up to hit the spot-kick straight down the middle.

Southend full-back Adam Barrett denied Blackpool a quick equaliser and saved Peter Clarke's blushes with a goal-line clearance after the ball deflected goalwards off the former Tangerines defender.

Blackpool took time to find their feet but began to gain control midway through the half.

The impressive Andy Welsh exchanged passes with Vernon to get to the byline in the 27th minute, although Keigan Parker somehow managed to sidefoot his cross over from six yards.

Parker then picked out Welsh at the far post a minute later and the former Sunderland winger's volley rolled agonisingly wide.

Blackpool failed to keep the pressure on heading into the break but showed greater urgency following the restart.

Welsh had a strong penalty appeal turned down for a nudge by Garry Richards, but again Blackpool failed to maintain their momentum.

Grayson threw on midfielder Wes Hoolahan and striker Andy Morrell on the hour mark in a bid to revive his side but Southend comfortably held firm and threatened themselves in the 75th minute when Nicky Bailey's curling effort was deflected over.

But that narrow escape roused Blackpool with David Fox dragging a 20-yard effort narrowly wide before a superb run by substitute Hoolahan finally unlocked the Southend defence.

Hoolahan left Lewis Hunt on the floor, and although his shot was blocked by a covering defender on the line, Welsh squared for Vernon to sidefoot home and take the game into extra-time.

Welsh's probing runs continued to cause Southend problems in extra-time and drew a tired foul from Harrold in the 104th minute, with Welsh forcing a decent save from Steve Collis with the resulting free-kick.

Substitute Jackson looked to have put Blackpool in front a minute after the restart when he met a Welsh cross but the Seasiders skipper glanced his diving header across goal.

However, the veteran defender made no mistake in the 117th minute, stabbing home at the back post after Southend failed to clear Welsh's corner.

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Carling Cup Result: Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle: First for Bendtner

	Arsenal 2 - 0 Newcastle 83' Nicklas Bendtner 1 - 0 89' Neves Denilson 2 - 0
2		0

Arsenal's next generation showed the future is bright as a bullet header from Nicklas Bendtner and a superb strike by Brazilian Denilson beat Newcastle 2-0 at Emirates Stadium.

Manager Arsene Wenger had put his faith in youth for the third-round Carling Cup tie, and last season's losing finalists showed they have both the hunger and undoubted talent in depth to make another strong run in the competition.

After dominating for long spells, the breakthrough eventually came when Bendtner powered in his first senior Arsenal goal on 83 minutes from Armand Traore's deep cross.

Captain Philippe Senderos had to clear off the line - but Denilson made sure of the result with a fine 20-yard strike.

Few sides will now fancy meeting the young Gunners in the fourth round and with Arsenal currently top of the Premier League, the foundations are in place for what could be a vintage season to remember.

Arsenal had severely reduced ticket prices to ensure a bumper attendance for the game.

However, there were plenty of empty seats once the action got under way, which was not surprising given the pre-match travel problems around north London on the Underground.

The hosts started brightly, with Eduardo - the Croatian international signed during the summer - causing problems down the right.

It was, though, Newcastle who created the first decent opening on 10 minutes, Sanchez Jose Enrique sent over a deep cross from the left towards the far post.

Obafemi Martins got up above the defence and headed the ball downwards, but Pole Lukasz Fabianski - on his debut - produced a fine low reaction save.

Arsenal slowly started to build some pressure and the hosts could have gone ahead on 17 minutes.

Full-back Traore got away down the Arsenal left and sent over a deep cross towards the penalty spot.

Bendtner, under pressure from David Rozehnal, got plenty of power on his header but could not keep the ball down and it flew high over the bar.

Emmanuel Eboue chipped the ball all the way across the six-yard area from the right but Eduardo was just unable to turn it in at the far post.

The Croatian was then clean through after he pushed a long pass ahead of him.

However, Newcastle keeper Shay Given showed his experience to quickly close down the Arsenal striker on the edge of the area and the loose ball was cleared.

On 37 minutes, Eboue sent in a low drive from 20 yards, which Given did well to palm away. Arsenal again pressed following the restart.

A quick move down the right saw Bendtner cut the ball back to Eboue, who made space for an angled drive, which Given put behind.

The veteran Republic of Ireland man then showed more good reflexes to deny Walcott from close range.

Fit-again Eboue - converted from right-back to midfield this season - was looking lively, and it took a saving block from Steven Taylor to deny the Ivory Coast man inside the six-yard box on 55 minutes.

From the resulting corner, Charles N'Zogbia was in just the right place to clear Eduardo's goal-bound looping header off the line.

Given was having a busy night, as he turned over a left-wing cross from Walcott which suddenly swerved goalwards.

Newcastle felt they had a penalty shout when Martins tumbled under a challenge from Senderos, but referee Howard Webb was not impressed.

Bendtner and Eduardo exchanged neat passes on the edge of the area, but after chesting the ball down, the Croatian scuffed his volley wide.

The Dane then looked to have won it for Arsenal when he powered in a bullet header from Traore's left-wing cross on 83 minutes.

However, there was still time for Senderos to heroically clear off the line after Martins had rounded Fabianski.

The result was then put beyond any doubt when Denilson rifled in a superb 20-yard effort with a minute to go.

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