Manchester United avoided further humiliation after their derby drubbing as they breezed through last night’s Carling Cup clash at Aldershot.
An entirely different starting XI to the side thrashed 6-1 on Sunday by Manchester City made sure there was no hangover thanks to Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia’s first goals of the season and another competition strike from Michael Owen.
Aldershot tried their best to bridge the gulf in class between League Two also-rans and the Premier League champions, but they failed until late on to seriously test a rearguard that had looked vulnerable in the extreme in recent weeks.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal showed fighting spirit to come from behind and beat Bolton 2-1.
Owen Coyle’s Trotters had led through Fabrice Muamba early in the second half but Andrey Arshavin levelled and Park Ju-young completed the turnaround with the winner.
Park was making just his second start following his move from Monaco in August and he gave a tantalising glimpse of his potential with a brilliant winner in the second half.
Park, who has yet to make his Premier League debut, gave an intelligent display that suggested the 26-year-old South Korea captain could have a significant part to play once he gets used to the frenetic pace of English football.
Although Arsene Wenger would clearly love to end Arsenal’s six-year trophy drought as soon as possible, he has never hidden his disdain for the League Cup and once again sent out a weakened team in a competition he treats as an opportunity to test out his youngsters.
He made 11 changes to the team that beat Stoke 3-1 on Sunday, with 18-year-old defender Nico Yennaris making his debut in a line-up that also included Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Ignasi Miquel and Emma-nuel Frimpong, as well as 20-year-old Francis Coquelin.
Joe Mason’s 40th-minute strike earned Cardiff a 1-0 win at home to fellow Championship side Burnley.
The night’s other match saw Crystal Palace beat Southampton 2-0 at Selhurst Park.
English League Cup: Fourth round – Aldershot vs Man. United 0-3; Arsenal vs Bolton 2-1; Cardiff vs Burnley 1-0; C. Palace vs Southampton 2-0.