FOOTBALL
MCDONALD'S BAD FOR WENGER'S KIDS
SHOCKED: Arsene Wenger
Wednesday December 3,2008
By Matthew Dunn
ARSENAL’S kids were turfed out of the Carling Cup last night by Burnley as two-goal hero Kevin McDonald earned the Championship side a place in the semi-finals.
Burnley’s victory was no surprise to manager Owen Coyle, who was thrilled by the quality of his team’s performance.
“There was no difference tonight. That’s the standard we have been setting ourselves,” he said.
“It was a real football atmosphere here and went a long way to adding to the history of this football club.
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“To reach the semi-finals is a magnificent achievement.”
But disappointed Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted we will not be seeing his ‘youth team’ again this season after
laying the blame at the feet of his misfiring strikers.
Wenger said: “We had six one-on-ones with their goalkeeper and we did not score with any of them. And we were a bit fragile at the back too.
“We had plenty of chances, but when you do not score, you have to ask why. You can praise their goalkeeper, but also question your own strikers.
“We just did not have the right focus in front of goal and that made the difference. We lost a game we should never have lost.
“The cup provides good education for our young players and you see as well those who have the quality to cope with the pressure and those who are maybe not completely up to it yet.
“So will this team have another opportunity this season? No.”
Goalkeeper Brian Jensen – the hero of the penalty shoot-out win against Chelsea in the previous round – was the man-of-the-match again with a series of brilliant stops.
He said: “It was always going to be a massive task for us so full credit to the lads because we are in the semi-finals.
“So why can’t we go on and win it? Let’s see just how far we can go.”
