But Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Arsene Wenger's other big stars weren't even on the field. They were watching from the stands as his backup teenagers treated the home fans to a glimpse of the future in a 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield United.
"These players do not play like kids," Wenger said. "They play with intelligence, talent and with spirit. They can beat many teams and I would not be scared to play any individual in the Premier League."
Carlos Vela, a 19-year-old Mexican, scored three times on his first start Tuesday night, and another goal came from 16-year-old Jack Wilshere with a 20-yard shot. Nicklas Bendtner scored the other two. At age 20 and these days a regular on the side, he's a comparative old timer.
Wenger usually rests his regular starters and gives the youngsters their chance in the Carling Cup, which is English's football's third tier prize. His lineup against the Blades had a teenage midfield four, and the average age of the outfield players was 18.
But Wenger also uses the competition as a springboard to the future and the likes of Vela and Wilshere are expected to be joining Fabregas (21), Walcott (19) and Denilson (20) on the Gunners lineups in the Champions League and Premier League in years to come.
One of the key figures in Mexico's under-17 world championship triumph in Peru four years ago when he was age 15, Vela was the biggest star on Tuesday. His audacious chip over the goalkeeper was the best of some high quality goals.
Although Sheffield United plays in the League Championship, it was a topflight team two seasons ago, and Wenger's youngsters face some experienced players on the lineup such as 39-year-old Gary Speed and 30-somethings James Beattie, Gary Naysmith, Lee Hendrie and goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.
Wenger was delighted with his team's performance but knew it was coming.
"I was not surprised because I see them every day," he said.
"They did that with the belief we want them to have and the spirit we want them to have. Now for us the biggest challenge is to keep them together and slowly integrate them into the first team. Some have done that already."
Wenger has come under fire for not strengthening his squad in the transfer market and preferring to rely on his youngsters who cost almost nothing to hire. No titles in the past three seasons have added to the criticism.
He argues, however, that it's easier to blend these young players into the squad than take experienced stars and get them to play his way.
"When you are under immense pressure to buy in every transfer window, you know that you have these players behind and it would be killing the work we have done," he said.
Wenger is also happy to let the youngsters continue to have the spotlight in the Carling Cup, although he expects to come under pressure to recall the established stars if the team reaches the late stages.
"We want to win the trophy this season, why not?" he said. "The only pressure you have is that when you go through the rounds towards the semifinals, everybody says, 'Now you have to change all these players.'
"So what do you do? Let them play like they have tonight and then say, 'Sorry, you do not play anymore?'. For me, that is not serious. No matter how far we go, we have to stick to our policy."
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