LONDON (AFP) - A team of Arsenal fledglings helped manager Arsene Wenger celebrate his contract extension with a 2-1 win away at Manchester City in the third round of the League Cup.
Just 72 hours after seeing the champions English top-flight record of 49 unbeaten league games ended by a 2-0 defeat away to Manchester United, the Londoners returned to Manchester.
But memories of that controversial match featuring the so-called 'soupgate' incident were put to one side as Dutch striker Robin van Persie's first Arsenal goal in the 78th minute sent a reserve Gunners team on their way.
American Daniel Karbassiyoon made it 2-0 late in the game before Robbie Fowler pulled one back in the closing seconds for City for his 200th career goal and 29th in 35 League Cup appearances.
Such was Arsenal's strength in depth that not one of the starting eleven against United was in the squad at the City of Manchester Stadium.
That fact alone left City's manager Kevin Keegan totally dejected.
"There were some very disappointing performances tonight from players wearing City shirts," admitted the former England handler, who could come under more pressure over his future after this defeat.
"A fan came up and told me afterwards exactly what he thought and I couldn't disagree with him.
"We were not with all due respect playing the Arsenal side that we played three weeks ago in the Premiership (a 1-0 defeat to a full strength side) .. I am very disappointed," added Keegan.
Elsewhere Premiership strugglers Southampton came from behind to beat League One side Colchester 3-2.
The Saints twice fell behind to the impressive visitors but under-pressure coach Steve Wigley had 18-year-old striker Dexter Blackstock's first senior hat-trick to thank for a much-needed victory.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea beat fellow Londoners and League One side West Ham 1-0 thanks to Mateja Kezman's first goal for the club in the 57th minute.
But Kezman ended the match with blood streaming from his face after appearing to be struck by a coin thrown from the crowd.
Goalkeeper Jimmy Walker kept the Hammers in the game and saved a penalty from West Ham old boy Frank Lampard.
Holders Middlesbrough eased into the fourth round with a 3-0 win at home to Championship Coventry with goals from Szilard Nemeth, James Morrison and Danny Graham.
Meanwhile Everton manager David Moyes saw his team beat his former club Preston 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Lee Carsley and Marcus Bent although Carsley was later red-carded for a crude challenge.
Elsewhere Crystal Palace beat London Premiership opponents Charlton 2-1. Palace old boy Hermann Hreidarsson put Charlton 1-0 up. But Palace hit back through Dougie Freedman and Sandor Torghelle's first Eagles goal.
Torghelle, however, was later sent off.
Newcastle defeated Norwich 2-1 thanks to Jermaine Jenas's second minute goal and Shola Ameobi's penalty three minutes before the break.
Former Newcastle striker Darren Huckerby scored from the spot in the 56th minute but that was as close as the Canaries came.
In another all Premiership encounter Fulham, for whom goalkeeper Mark Crossley had a superb game, beat Birmingham 1-0 thanks to Mark Pembridge's 76th minute goal.
At the Reebok, Tottenham twice came from behind to beat Bolton, last season's losing finalists, 4-3 after extra-time.
Jermain Defoe ended his goal drought by netting twice for Spurs who went behind to a Ledley King own-goal in the 27th minute.
Defoe pulled one back just before half-time but Jay-Jay Okocha restored Bolton's lead with a controversial 75th minute penalty.
However, Spurs's Goran Bunjevcevic bundled the ball home in the 85th minute to send the match into extra-time.
Spurs sub Michael Brown headed in a Michael Carrick free-kick in the 95th minute to give Tottenham the lead for the first time before Defoe scored his second.
However, former Spurs forward Les Ferdinand pulled one back two minutes later and then saw Tottenham keeper Kasey Keller make a superb block to deny him a second.

10/27/2004 - 22:12 GMT - AFP