ACCORDING to Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy last night's aim was first and foremost to capture the hearts and minds of new generation of Black Cats fans.
Unfortunately Arsene Wenger's latest crop of young talent were keen to play party poopers in front of 47,366 fans, and while the Black Cats fans were hardly chanting 'What a waste of money', there was precious little for them to shout about in last night's Carling Cup Round Three encounter.
Three second half goals, two from Robin van Persie and a Emmanuel Eboue 25-yarder, ensured the gulf in class was clear for all to see.
McCarthy had hoped his players would be 'excited' by the full house attracted by the discount ticketing policy, but if anything they appeared to suffering from stage fright.
The problem appeared to afflict both sides in a turgid first half but while the Gunners were able to shake off the problem after the break, the Black Cats were even worse after the break.
A crunching challenge on Carl Robinson by Fabrice Muamba in the 73rd minute added to McCarthy's woes - the injury forcing the midfielder off shortly after.
It was more of a case of who stayed in McCarthy and Arsene Wenger's side from last weekend rather than who was rested.
Steve Caldwell, Justin Hoyte, Nyron Nosworthy, Liam Lawrence and Andy Welsh 'survived' from Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby, with just Pascal Cygan remaining in Arsenal's starting XI from last weekend.
Wenger clearly demonstrated his ruthless streak by dropping Thierry Henry and Robert Pires after their penalty fiasco. It would have been real punishment if he'd made both play.
An early exchange of chances saw Van Persie fire straight at Ben Alnwick in the home goal and immediately afterwards Jon Stead see his effort on the turn from eight yards deflected wide.
Midfield was where the action was and Martin Woods held his own early on with some neat footork.
However, on the quarter hour his footwork let him down with skipper for the night Caldwell misjudging the pace of his ball back allowing Arturo Lupoli the chance to steal in on goal.
Nosworthy's challenge was late on the Italian youth international and he looked to be the last man but referee Matt Messias mysteriously adjudged the full back got some of the ball.
The play from both sides, unfortunately, was far from inspiring but the chants of what a waste of money were so far missing.
Just before the half hour a pass from Quincy Owusu-Abeyie found Van Persie unmarked inside the box but his curling effort from 12 yards was pushed away by Alnwick.
For all their huff and puff, Sunderland were finding the Gunners back-line difficult to break down and their first effort on target only arrived in the 35th minute with Andy Welsh's shot from 25-yards providing little difficulty for Manuel Almunia.
Better was to follow shortly after with a sustained period of possession for the home side ending with Stead turning Phillipe Senderos on the edge of the box, with his shot gathered low by Almunia.
Senderos blew his chance to hit back straight away, directing a free header from Owusu-Abeyie's cross wide of the goal.
Anthony Le Tallec headed over soon after with the finishing quality from both sides sadly lacking.
The only hope for the near 50,000 in the stadium was that it could only get better.
It got worse, however, soon after the restart for Sunderland with thigh injury victim Danny Collins replaced by Dan Smith in the 48th minute.
The Gunners superior pace and movement almost paid dividends minutes later when Van Persie turning Caldwell in the box only to see his effort beaten away by Alnwick at his near post.
A short spell of raised expectations among the home fans begun with a flying run by Welsh down the left soon gave way to two-goal deficit as Wenger's youngsters stepped up a gear and left the Black Cats for dead.
A super run by Owusu-Abeyie down the left ended with possession switching to the opposite flank with Emanuel Eboue taking a couple of touches before thed Ivory Coast youngster fired a shot from 25-yards that Alnwick only appeared to pick up as it nestled in the back of Sunderland's net.
Five minutes later and the game was over.
This time a slick move ended with the speedy Lupoli breaking into the box on the right only for Smith to bring him down.
Van Persie sent Alnwick the wrong way and the distraction of the Carling Cup was no longer a distraction for McCarthy's men.
With Sunderland unable to offer any resistance of note, Van Persie rounded off proceeding with his second shortly before the end after being put through by Sabastian Larsson.
Sunderland 0 - 3 Arsenal
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