For a side that are supposed to be taking the Carling Cup seriously this season Arsenal enjoyed an unusually frivolous passage into the quarter finals.
There were frequent spells when Arsène Wenger's players could barely string two passes together and numerous alarming moments when their defence came undone but they still managed to satisfy those shareholders clamouring for silverware by somehow conjuring four variously comedic, controversial and classically sublime goals.
If Wenger may use the DVD from this uncharacteristically messy, if slightly thrilling, match to demonstrate just why his creed of possession retention matters so much, Chris Hughton will be desperately hoping for a restorative home win in Sunday's all important derby against Sunderland.
At least rumours that his job was in jeopardly were quashed by Newcastle's board on a night when even Wenger acknowledged Newcastle were not quite as easy a hurdle to surmount as the scoreline might suggest.
"We were lucky to get the first goal just before half-time which put us in a position where we could break much more as Newcastle had to attack," said Arsenal's manager who was delighted to see the returning Theo Walcott score twice but still took the precaution of liberating Cesc Fábregas from the bench to seal victory.
"You can see Theo's composure on the ball and first touch have improved, he has tremendous pace and power but he's a very intelligent player," Wenger added before admitting he was "concerned" by the arguably reckless nature of some late Newcastle tackles.
The game was conducted in breathless, almost ridiculously open fashion. Much of the defending was so kamikaze that were George Graham still Arsenal manager he would surely have been apoplectic within five minutes.
With markers dragged out of position at will and inviting gaps opening up some of the English game's most promising young creators strutted their stuff with abandon – before typically freezing with the goal at their mercy.
One moment proved emblematic of Newcastle's night. It involved Nile Ranger – drafted into Hughton's side as one of nine changes following last Saturday's win at West Ham – looking absolutely brilliant one second and a complete novice the next.
After collecting Danny Guthrie's pass, bursting beyond Johan Djourou, drawing Wojciech Szczesny way off his line and sportingly staying on his feet in the wake of what looked like clear contact as he rounded Arsenal's third choice goalkeeper, Ranger then took an eternity to switch the ball onto his stronger foot, thereby permitting Laurent Koscielny to nip in and block.
If both Hughton and Wenger watched in sheer disbelief, Alan Smith appeared similarly amazed that he had not broken his Newcastle scoring duck after seeing his vicious 25 yard strike bounce back off the crossbar. Meanwhile Haris Vuckic also loudly cursed his luck after whipping a decent shot fractionally wide.
Wenger, too, had significantly revamped his side but apart from the returning Walcott Arsenal included considerable experience in the shape of Denílson, Tomas Rosicky, Emmanuel Eboué and Nicklas Bendtner.
Tim Krul swiftly saved smartly from both Carlos Vela and Bendtner before the latter subsequently dragged a dangerous shot wide. "We began well but couldn't finish," lamented Wenger.
Such anxieties were assuaged in first half stoppage time by a visiting goal thoroughly in keeping with the harum scarum spirit of things. It began routinely enough with a Walcott corner which Newcastle struggled to clear and, following some penalty area chaos, was eventually headed towards goal by Bendtner.
Next came the comedy turn. Although Ryan Taylor was stationed on the line, his intended clearance ended up hitting Krul on the back of the head and rolled into the back of the net.
Despite Arsenal still struggling to establish their customary passing rhythm, Walcott propelled them towards the next round, dinking the ball over the advancing Krul after running onto Koscielny's header.
Newcastle though were furious as Bendtner, who had been trundling back from an offside position collided with Mike Williamson, the defender tracking Walcott. Williamson might never have caught up but he was still the victim of a cynical looking bodycheck.
Undaunted, Hughton's team continued to create a host of half chances but when Danny Guthrie gave the ball away Fábregas's fine pass enabled Bendtner to shoot imperiously into the top corner.
Arsenal were home and dry but Walcott rubber stamped the win by showing Newcastle's defence a clean pair of heels before shooting low beneath Krul.
Source: Louise Taylor, The Guardian on 27 Oct 10
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