Vela inspires late salvo to sink Baggies
ARSENAL (2) vs WEST BROM (0)
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger hailed Carlos Vela after the Mexican starlet came off the bench to propel his youthful Carling Cup side into the fourth round.
Forward Sanchez Watt’s first senior goal put the Gunners ahead against 10-man West Brom, after some neat footwork and a smart shot from Vela.
Pacy striker Vela doubled the lead, and booked Arsenal’s place in the last 16, when he reacted first to a Mark Randall chip that hit the bar.
“When he came on straight away he made a difference because he is dangerous in his control and in his movement. His class gives you something special,”
Wenger said of Vela. “He can play wide left, wide right, he can play central, he gives you plenty of options.”
Wenger has long used the Carling Cup to blood his youngsters and continued that tradition last night, naming eight teenagers in his starting line-up. Defender Philippe Senderos, a comparative veteran at 24, made his first Arsenal start since May 2008, following a loan spell at ACMilan, and almost opened the scoring with a header that flew narrowly over.
Watt then hit the post as the Jack Wilshere-inspired Gunners dominated, but they were given a scare when a West Brom corner caused havoc in the penalty area and Kerrea Gilbert had to hack off the line.
The Championship leaders then suffered a major blow when former Arsenal attacker Jerome Thomas was sent off for slapping Wilshere shortly before half time.
The Baggies threatened straight after the break when midfielder Simon Cox found space in the six-yard box, only to head over.
But an inspired Wenger substitution that saw Vela and Randall come on tipped the balance in Arsenal’s favour, and Watt grabbed the opener in the 68th minute.
The 18-year-old was the quickest to react when visiting goalkeeper Dean Kiely saved Vela’s effort, after the Latin American had skilfully made space to shoot. And just seven minutes later Vela got his own reward, forcing the ball home after Randall’s 20-yard shot came back off the underside of the bar.