Arsenal’s Carling Cup campaign came to an end on Tuesday night at Turf Moor when they were beaten 2-0 by a well organised Burnley side. Kevin McDonald scored both the goals for Burnley, who have now added Arsenal to Fulham and Chelsea in the list of London clubs they have knocked out of the Carling Cup this season. In the other quarterfinal, Derby stunned Stoke City at the Britannia stadium, with Nathan Ellington converting an injury time penalty after Andy Griffin had handled the ball in the Stoke box.
McDonald gave Burnley a shock lead in the 6th minute, after Lukas Fabianski failed to take control of Chris Eagles’ cross from the right. The ball fell to McDonald, who duly did the rest. McDonald doubled Burnley’s lead twelve minutes after half time, out muscling Mark Randall and firing past Fabianski from an Eagles throw in.
Arsenal’s youngsters, with an average age of 18.7 were excellent, but paid for their profligacy in front of goal. Danish stopper Brian Jensen, hero of the shoot out against Chelsea, also had an outstanding day in between the sticks, denying Nicklas Bendtner, Mark Randall and Carlos Vela to keep Burnley’s lead intact. Bendtner, starting ahead of Jay Simpson, had a frustrating night as he just could not get the ball into the Burnley net despite some wonderful attacking play from the Gunners. Wenger also gave Paul Rodgers his debut alongside Mikael Silvestre in defence.
Arsenal were clinical in the way they had dumped Wigan and Sheffield United out, but Burnley away was always going to be a tough test. Owen Coyle got his tactics right, and Burnley were deserving winners at the end of the night.
We now have two Championship teams in the last four of the Carling Cup, and could possibly end up having three, if Watford overcome defending champions Tottenham Hotspur at home.
With Arsenal out of the competition, you will have to regard Manchester United as the favourites to lift the cup, but Paul Ince and his Blackburn side might have something to say about it tonight.