Young Gunners firing on all cylinders

Carling Cup round-up: Arsenal's youngsters sent Wigan crashing out of the Carling Cup with another stunning 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium. Two goals from Jay Simpson, on his first start for the club, and a sublime third from Mexican starlet Carlos Vela put the Gunners into the fifth round.

Steve Bruce's side were never in the game and but for a fabulous display from goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, Wigan would have lost by a much greater scoreline.

Arsenal's established stars may not have been on the pitch, but Simpson revealed that some, including Emmanuel Adebayor, played an important role behind the scenes.

"Seeing the players with experience in the tunnel is a real boost for all of us. I spoke to Ade (Adebayor) before the game and he just said 'hit the target'," Simpson told Sky Sports.

"We knew Wigan would give us a hard time and we had a lot to prove."
 
After the youngsters' thrashing of Sheffield United in the last round, manager Arsene Wenger believes his rookies showed once again that they are the best crop ever produced by the Gunners' famed youth system.

"I am very proud of the players and of the quality of the display," he said.

"That's the most complete side of youngsters (Arsenal have had in his time at the club), and with many good young English players. It's very good for the future of the club to see that it is in safe hands."

Carlos Tevez's 76th-minute spot-kick proved enough to steer Manchester United past QPR as the hosts held on for a 1-0 success.

Although no-one could claim QPR deserved anything from a contest in which they were second-best from start to finish, they almost took the tie into extra-time as United failed to make the most of their dominance.

In the end, Peter Ramage's rash tackle on substitute Daniel Welbeck was all United needed as Tevez coolly stroked home.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan was on target as Stoke boss Tony Pulis's top-flight understudies also secured a place in the last eight with a 2-0 win over Rotherham.

A goal in each half from Whelan and Danny Pugh — neither of whom have figured much in the Premier League — settled the issue in the fourth-round clash at the Britannia Stadium.

Whelan's strike was a clever 20-yard free-kick, while Pugh raced on to a Dave Kitson pass to grab the second.

Elsewhere, Lee Williamson was on target for the second time in three days against Swansea to earn Watford a 1-0 win. They will be joined by Derby after early strikes from Emanuel Villa and Nathan Ellington earned a 2-1 win over Leeds.