Debut goals by Kieran Gibbs, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, and Yossi Benayoun guided the Gunners to a
3-1 win over Shrewsbury Town, a side who showed a fair bit of skill and fighting spirit.
Arsene Wenger went to his crop of promising youngsters and new signings to trot out Chamberlain,
Carl Jenkinson, Ignasi Miquel, Yossi Benayoun, Park Chu Young, and Francis Coquelin.
It took Arsenal an hour to break the frustrating logjam. But in the end Nicklas Bendtner,
Laurent Kosicielny, and Cesc Fabregas booked the Gunners to their first Carling Cup final since
2007 and a shot at their first silverware since the 2005 FA Cup. The first half was marked by Robin
Van Persie's solitary attempt which struck his mortal enemy, the woodwork (this must be his
umpteenth time he's hit either the upright or the crossbar).
In retrospect, Chelsea did a great disservice to Arsenal this weekend. Because if there is
anyone in the league that can get away without doing the hard work, it is the North London
side.
The Gunners probably felt that they just had to show up and Ipswich would cave in just as they
did against Chelsea.
