In a few years of natural growth he will be able to power past players like Paul Gascoigne used to do. At the moment he is relying in mainly his technique

Arsenal 2 West Brom 0 – Carling Cup

As the senior players were resting weary legs, the Arsenal kids once again stepped into first team shoes and impressed. This group of players must look forward to this first round from the beginning of the season.

My information that Francis Coquelin and Gillies Sunu had been sent away on under 19s duty was wide of the mark and both players took to the field from the start. The surprise was that Carlos Vela returning from injury had to make do with a place on the Arsenal bench, he probably is lacking fitness and sharpness.

Arsene Wenger was bold with his selection, adopting the 4-3-3 and using Jack Wilshere as a creative midfielder instead of an attacking three. That certainly looks like a possible future position for him should he step up to first team.

I was a little worried before the game as West Brom were flying in the Championship. Top of their division, just coming back from a thumping of Middlesbrough in their back yard. The West Brom players would have been full of confidence but they would not have come across a selection of hand picked talented kids with very bright futures.

It was certainly a tough test for the players, West Brom were physical and determined, when they got on the ball they played football. We should have got ahead after five minutes. Big Phil Senderos managed to get two free headers in a crowded penalty area but he couldn’t convert them.

Senderos is usually a slow starter, it takes him a few games to get his sharpness back which is understandable. He hasn’t played a competitive match since last year when he was wearing the colours of AC Milan.

Sanchez Watt came closest to opening the scoring after his effort cannoned back off the post.

Jack Wilshere looked promising in the middle of the park, he tends to have a knack of receiving the ball and moving forward with it in one movement. Technically he is ready for pretty much any level, but physically he is not there. In a few years of natural growth he will be able to power past players like Paul Gascoigne used to do. At the moment he is relying in mainly his technique. Stopping Wilshere must have been the message sent out from Di Matteo and his staff as the youngster was clattered into whenever he received the ball. This will be something he will have to get accustomed to and it is another reason why we must allow him to grow both naturally and with the right training.

Jerome Thomas was a player I really had high hopes for when at our club. He had an early run which almost created a goal scoring opportunity for West Brom but in the 38th minute, he lost it. Thomas clattered into Wilshere with his arms raised. Jack Wilshere obviously not very pleased about being kicked left, right and center from West Brom players refused to shake the hand of Jerome Thomas. Words were exchanged and Thomas paid the price for reacting. A push in the face is nothing dangerous but by the letter of the law, if you put your hand on an opponents face you will be dismissed so he cannot have any complaints.

It was a blow for the away team as they were just starting to impose themselves on the game.

Wojciech Szczesny looked like a typical current Arsenal goalkeeper. Making some fine saves but at the same time not totally commanding in his penalty area, although at 19 it is slightly unfair to expect a young keeper to have nothing else to learn.

That is the major plus from the match last night, half of the players who started last night were from the youth team squad of last season. These are teenagers who if at other clubs would be playing against other teenagers, they are well above were they are supposed to be and that is great credit to the management staff. Arsene Wenger, Steve Bould and Nick Banfield have all played their part in developing these excellent players.

Aaron Ramsey was the most senior youngster on show, the player closest to breaking through. Ramsey had a Jekyll and Hyde performance, it almost looked like he was trying just a little too hard to impress. He often attempted passes that were unnecessary when playing the easy option would have benefited the team more. He gave the ball away a little too often at times but also drove well from midfield and tracked back defensively very well.

I thought Mikel Silvestre continued his form from pre season by looking pretty sharp in the center of defence, one sliding interception in the second half was fantastic. He must be ahead of Senderos in the pecking order right now due to fitness and sharpness.

Arsenal struggled to find the spark to break down West Brom until Arsene made tactical and personnel changes. Carlos Vela and Mark Randall replaced Francis Coquelin and Gilles Sunu. Wenger reverted to 4-4-2 to exploit West Brom being down to ten men and the change worked wonders.

Carlos Vela made an instant impact, his pace and touch lifted the Arsenal attack. Vela played the biggest role in the first goal by allowing a ball to come across his body turn and shoot at goal, the West Brom keeper could only parry to Sanchez Watt who slotted in underneath the goalkeeper.

The second goal was orchestrated by Mark Randall. A delightfully floated chip over the head of the goalkeeper hit the underside of the crossbar and Vela was on hand to nip in front of the goalkeeper and defender to fire into the net. Randall has had plenty of negative stick from some fans lately but I have always loved his ability to pass the ball and get stuck in, even if he tends to take that too far on occasions. He clearly hasn’t improved as much as he should of over the last year or so but he does have plenty of ability.

I am pleased for the lads, it gives them another opportunity to showcase their talents, it also keeps the door open to the likes of Merida and Hoyte when the return from International duty.

This may not have been the flamboyant display of last seasons Carling Cup opener but it was probably more beneficial to the side to have to fight and grind out a result against an inform team that could well find themselves promoted come the end of the season.