Man Utd came with a team of youngsters, Neville and Yorke being the only recognisable faces from their regular first team (although van der Howe came on for the second half). Against that Arsenal had Wright, Parlour, Grimandi, van Bronckhorst, Kanu, and Wiltord as well as other more fringey players such as Luzhny and Stepanovs. Pennant, Edu, and Greek defender Stathis Tavlaridis completed the starting 11.

Junichi Anamoto wasn't there, as he is in Japan for a friendly match on Wednesday. A shame for the many many Japanese fans that were at Highbury. Usually League Cup night is full of youngsters, but this was a night for the tourists. I spent much of the first 10 minutes helping people find their seats, and there was a continuous photo-shoot going on just in front of me throughout the match. Including at strange times like when a corner was happening just in front of us. A very peculiar night.

The greater experience and strenght of our squad told. Both Parlour and Grimandi in central midfield had good games, Parlour seemingly on a mission to clatter each Utd player at least once and Grimandi being a remarkably effective force going forward. The really telling difference was up front though, with Wiltord and Kanu sharing the 4 goals and most of the assists.

In a way that was disappointing, as the less familar Arsenal players weren't the ones that caught the eye. The chief exception was Tavlaridis, who had a very solid debut and looked a fair bit better than his partner in central defence Igors Stepanovs. Pennant didn't get in the game as much as we'd hoped he would, and he kept trying to do a little too much on his own.

Half-time sub John Halls was very unlucky to be sent off on his debut. The first booking looked a harsh one from the other end of the pitch - he hacked the ball away after handball had been given against him ( that looked harsh for starters) but it all happened pretty quickly. The second looked to be for a pretty tame foul although admittedly that was up the other end of the pitch too.

The first goal after a quarter of an hour started with a defensive header from Tavlaridis which came out to a Utd player. But he dallied and gave timefor Parlour to get a tackle in. Then Grimandi took over and showed us some surprisingly nifty footwork as he brought he ball forward past an opponent and pass to Kanu. The Nigerian slipped the ball through tyhe defensive line, Wiltord having got back onside by then (although another player, Pennant perhaps, was still just offside but not involved). Put clear on the first half keeper Carroll, Sylvain made no mistake with a low shot.

The second was the first penalty, won by Kanu for Wiltord to take. It wasn't the most convincing of penalties, but although Wallwork guessed right the ball squirmed under or through him.

Wiltord's third, in injury time, was a beauty. Great persistence by Parlour in the build-up, and it was Ray's chip over the line into the box which Wiltord nodded on and then poked home as it landed just in front of the onrushing keeper.

Goal number 4 was another penalty, won by Wiltord but he let Kanu take it.... which was nice to see given the worries about who apart from Vieira would be prepared to take them when Henry's not on the pitch.

United had a couple of good spells and a couple of good chances. Djordjic (?) placed the first wide after a cross from our left found him in space on the far side of the box. And Yorke (playing in midfield) headed wide from a corner after Wright had come for the ball and missed it. Apart from that Wirhgt had a good game, and made a couple fo good saves rushing out of his goal and one excellent one, fingertipping a freekick onto the bar after its deflection looked to have him beat.

Grimsby await in the next round, at Highbury towards the end of November.

More to follow.