‘You’re next United’ says boss Hughes
MANCHESTER CITY (3) vs ARSENAL (0)
MARK HUGHES welcomed a crunch Manchester derby in the semi-final of the Carling Cup by roaring: “Bring them on”!
The Manchester City boss saw his side dispose of a young Arsenal side at Eastlands last night to earn an eagerly-awaited two-legged clash with rivals United in the last four.
“We are just taking in the events of this evening but they’re going to be two fantastic games and the whole of Manchester will be tuning in and looking forward to some fantastic games,” Hughes said. “Over two games we’d fancy our chances against anyone left in the draw, so bring them on.
“We’ve frustrated our fans and ourselves in recent weeks but when we play like that we are very strong.”
Hughes’ passage into the last four came after a pretty comfortable night against an Arsenal second string, who, for all their bravery, were outclassed by the City big guns, who finally ended a run of seven successive draws.
In contrast to the visitors, Hughes selected his strongest possible line-up, which included ex-Gunners Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor, who was locking horns with his former club for the first time since his infamous goal celebration in front of Gunners fans back in September.
Arsene Wenger’s young guns put in a spirited first-half display, but, in truth, the result never really in doubt once Carlos Tevez cut in from the right side of the box and unleashed a fine strike into the top corner to give City the lead.
Arsenal toiled and it was no surprise when Shaun Wright-Phillips doubled the home side’s advantage on 69 minutes when evading Mikael Silverstre’s weak challenge before firing a fine strike being the helpess Lukasz Fabianski and into the far top corner.
Lively winger Craig Bellamy then set up a first senior goal for substitute Vladimir Weiss to wrap things up, although Fran Merida was unlucky not to add a consolation for Arsenal with a 20-yard effort which crashed against the crossbar.