Teenage Gunners rout Blades

Vela: Superb hat-trick

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Carlos Vela took centre stage as Arsenal's teenage sensations destroyed Sheffield United to progress to the Carling Cup fourth round with a display of scintillating football at Emirates Stadium.

Arsene Wenger named a side with an average age of 19 and they simply tore their Championship opponents apart to suggest the future is bright in North London, with Mexican Vela claiming a hat-trick.

The young Gunners took the lead in the 31st minute with Nicklas Bendtner measuring a shot into the bottom corner of the net from outside the box after good work from Fran Merida and Vela.

And it was 2-0 three minutes before the interval with Bendtner again providing the finish after Aaron Ramsey's driving run and audacious backheel had foxed the Blades defence.

Bendtner then turned provider for the third goal in added time, lifting the ball over the Sheffield United defence for Vela to run on and produce a delightful finish beyond a baffled Paddy Kenny.

Things did not improve for Kenny after the break, with the brilliant Vela making it 4-0 with an outrageous close-range chip which left the Blades keeper on his backside.

Jack Wilshire made it 5-0 as he collected a corner and drilled in at the near post from the edge of the box before Vela completed his hat-trick three minutes from time after Ramsey's pass.

Wembley

Sterner tests lie ahead for the likes of Wales Under-21 midfielder Aaron Ramsey, the raw talent of Wilshere and aspiring full-back Kieran Gibbs - but on this evidence their Wembley dream may not be so far away.

The young Gunners began brightly and a crisp passing move sent Gibbs away down the left, only for his low centre to fly across the six-yard box.

United forward Danny Webber did well to weave himself into space just outside the Arsenal penalty area but then could not get any power on his shot and the ball bobbled through to Lukasz Fabianski, captain for the night and at 23 the oldest man in the home team.

Another quick passing Arsenal move on the edge of the area saw Bendtner play in Johan Djourou and the big defender turned to fire a goalbound effort which Kenny saved at full stretch.

Bendtner flicked on for Wilshere to collect in the overlap down the right but the teenager rushed his attempted curled shot and hit wide.

The Dane then showed the rest of the youngsters how it should be done with a fine finish after 31 minutes.

Arsenal felt they had a strong penalty claim when Morgan slid through on Wilshere but referee Phil Dowd was unimpressed.

After 42 minutes Ramsey - signed from Cardiff for £5million in the summer - weaved his way into the left of the penalty area before turning and playing a superb backheel to Bendtner who beat Kenny from six yards.

Before the visitors could regroup and look towards the respite of half-time they were further behind.

Audacious

Bendtner turned provider as he chipped a pass through for Vela to run on to down the right and the Mexican sprinted into the area before bending a delightful effort into the far corner.

In the second half Arsenal continued where they had left off as Gibbs stung the keeper's hands with a fierce angled drive from the left of the penalty area.

The full-back then sent a long pass upfield towards Vela who took the ball on his chest, leaving Chris Morgan chasing shadows, and darted into the box to finish with an audacious chip over the stranded keeper.

It got worse for the battered Blades when Wilshere drilled in a fifth after 57 minutes.

Fran Merida's right-wing corner picked out the 16-year-old - Arsenal's youngest to appear in the Premier League - and he showed great composure to drill a low shot past Kenny from 22 yards.

However, Cesc Fabregas, by just more than a month, remains Arsenal's youngest scorer at 16 years 212 days with his goal against Wolves in December 2003.

There was no holding back by the rampant Gunners with Djourou heading over at the back post following another deep corner before Bendtner narrowly missed out on his hat-trick when his close-range shot trickled wide.

Vela then completed his treble with another well-taken effort after 88 minutes after running clear down the left onto Ramsey's pass.