I thought that Theo Walcott would have been a certain starter for the game and was truly bemused to find out that he was not part of the squad

Apologies for the late showing, unfortunately I couldn’t sit down and pour my heart out about our latest match, so I think I shall cut it a bit shorter than usual as I am sure you have read and listened to just about enough by now.

The saying when it rains, it pours couldn’t be more true when it comes to Arsenal but although the defeat at Eastlands remains part of a sequence of bad results, the game has to be separated from Arsenal’s results against Sunderland and Chelsea. Having said that, it is difficult to defend my view point when I am about to point out that Arsenal played some nice football but couldn’t convert possession into goal scoring opportunities along with some individual errors that lead to goals. Sound familiar?

It was always going to be a difficult game for the young players. It is one thing taking on Premier League opposition at the Emirates and it is another thing challenging a side who have a wealth of attacking talent in their squad.

The game didn’t actually go the way I expected, I thought that City would implement the same game plan as they did earlier in the season against our seniors. Sit deep, pressure us to win the ball back and counter us with pace in wide areas. Instead they forced the issue, they had big chunks of the ball and used it well.

Shaun Wright-Phillips caused us many problems down our left, his pace and attacking power proved to be a vital outlet for City and that was much of what our young passers lacked. I thought that Theo Walcott would have been a certain starter for the game and was truly bemused to find out that he was not part of the squad, as we know now Theo had already been privately ruled out with yet another lingering injury problem.

At many clubs you could imagine that one player has a sick note tag that supporters and even team mates chuckle about but at Arsenal it is certainly no laughing matter with the tag being passed around like a hot potato to various squad members throughout the year.

The Arsenal kids were under pressure for sections of the first half and it was a little strange to see us not being able to dominate the ball as we usually do at every level at every ground. My first thought was that it would be a good education for the players to learn to keep top level players at bay as Chelsea did to the first team a few days earlier.

We did produce some real moments of quality until the very final ball. It was disappointing to see Jack Wilshere looking human. We have got used to Wilshere making a big impact in Carling Cup games but he couldn’t get on the ball in the areas that he needs to be. It is no use for Jack picking the ball up on the half way line and playing a short square five yard pass, god forbid that Denilson had the same game. Wilshere needed to be outside of the Manchester City penalty box looking for diagonal runs from Vela or skipping past the full backs.

Aaron Ramsey could pull the strings against Scotland for his country but could not produce the same against the likes of Stephen Ireland and Gareth Barry, so far his long range efforts are flying in for his country whether it’s for the under 21s or the full team but for Arsenal they are sailing high and wide. I am looking forward to the day when it clicks for the young man because he will be truly fantastic, a real midfield dynamo but right now he is suffering from inconsistency which is very normal for a talent of his age.

Carlos Tevez goal five minutes after the break was superb from his point of view, fantastic technique and a wonderful strike but from an Arsenal perspective it was bloody awful. Terrible defending from players who should know better.

The next goal was key, could Arsenal complete one of the many passing sequences that had only reached Kolo Toure and his team mates. Arsene made a bold change in an attempt to gain some penetration. Sanchez Watt replaced Craig Eastmond with Ramsey dropping to a more defensive midfield position. Unfortunately the changes were not given enough time to make an impact on the game. Two minutes later Shaun Wright-Phillips ran towards the Arsenal goal, Silvestre backed off and invited the little winger to power an arrowing strike into the top corner of Fabianski’s net. With the young guns not causing many problems to the City goal that second goal was pretty much game over for Arsenal.

A late third was added by young substitute Vladimir Weiss. I was hoping that we could score a consolation goal, just something that the boys could take back with them from the game but it was not to be.

Sky’s attempt to cause a big stir from Wenger refusal to shake the hand of Mark Hughes is just embarrassing. I concern is that they will brainwash many Gooners into believing that Wenger is losing the plot or is a sore loser. Mark Hughes behaved like an utter prick during the game but we will not read any of that via the media because it justifies Wenger’s decision. I do not expect to read any ‘Wenger snubs disgraceful Hughes’ headlines any time soon.

Wenger is perfectly correct to say that he can choose who he shakes hands with. He lost 3-0 in our most important game of the season a few days ago to Chelsea and was there to shake Carlo Ancelotti’s hand. It is about respect. I wouldn’t want to shake the hand of Phil Brown, Brian Horton or Mark Hughes either.

The reaction from some quarters is truly astonishing. Some suggesting that his policy has failed because our kids have lost away to the biggest spenders in the league is just lunacy. This competition has given chances to many players to turn in quality performances every week for the first team and will continue to do so.

Was I upset that we lost? Of course I was, I was more disappointed that the youngsters have missed out on a semi final. The Carling cup is and will always remain on the bottom of the trophy pile at the start of the season and it should remain so. Had we stuck in Cesc and Arshavin to get us through and they picked up injuries, then Wenger would have been crucified by the same people who are demanding we win that trophy.

Personally I would rather the likes of Vela, Ramsey and Wilshere are ready the following season due to the Carling Cup than playing our strongest team and getting to the final.

Arsenal are out of the competition and the youngsters may not have to wait very long to feature for the Gunners again with a spare Champions League game in Greece coming up. The most important thing to our manager will not be hand shaking or Carling Cup exits, it will be three Premier League points against Stoke on the weekend.