Eduardo obliterates Blades

Croatian nets excellent brace in away win

By James Dall   Last updated: 1st November 2007

Eduardo da Silva

Eduardo: Excellent brace

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Arsenal moved into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Arsene Wenger's young stars demonstrated their quality with some free-flowing football, and secured the win courtesy of an Eduardo da Silva brace and a Denilson strike.

It was The Blades that took the early initiative, twice threatening from set-pieces.

First, a long-throw caused confusion in the Arsenal box and almost found Chris Morgan, and then minutes later a deep free-kick fell to Billy Sharp who toed towards goal, but the onrushing Lukasz Fabianski parried well.

Smashed

Just as the home fans' optimism was building, The Gunners took the lead when Nicklas Bendtner angled a ball to Eduardo, who smashed home brilliantly from just outside the area.

On 14 minutes Fabianski was called into action once more when Michael Tonge's dangerous cross forced the Poland international into an effective but unorthodox punch.

The bright David Carney then showed some quality after a positive run in which he cut in and struck a fizzing shot wide.

Arsenal's easy on the eye football continued to stretch United, and a surging run from Abou Diaby saw the midfielder roll a ball into Theo Walcott, however the teenager completely miss-hit his effort to slice wide.

Sloppy

Five minutes into the second half some really sloppy defending from the home side handed Arsenal a two-goal lead, as Eduardo dispatched with aplomb past the helpless Ian Bennett.

Bryan Robson's men then put their best move together when they worked the ball wide to Nick Montgomery. The midfielder bent a cross into Jon Stead but Alexandre Song did enough to put off the outstretched striker.

On 65 minutes Walcott missed a golden opportunity to get himself on the scoresheet. The pacey forward capitalised on a defensive lapse to round Bennett, but his effort from a narrow angle came back off the post.

Wenger's side made it three when Denilson was allowed far too much room to try his luck, and his strike clipped a defender to leave the keeper with no chance.