United Manager Chris Hughton said:

"I have to say the second goal, I thought, was offside and most definitely if it wasn't we thought Mike Williamson was impeded. Of course at 2-0, you have got to open up your game a little bit to give yourselves a chance to get back in and what you can't afford to do is make fundamental mistakes.

"Unfortunately we did and they had the quality to capitalise on them but we showed a lot of spirit. It was a young side, it was a different side but we certainly kept going to the end and had our own chances.

"We will put this one behind us because what we do have is a very big game on Sunday and I can guarantee you that, come Sunday, the lads will be very much focused and will know what the magnitude of the game is."

PS: a short statement released late on Wednesday by Newcastle United read:

"Chris (Hughton) is our manager, and he'll remain our manager, and we will renegotiate his contract at the end of the year."

Asked if renewed speculation pre-match over his position had affected him, Hughton said:

"It is difficult not to be, we are all aware about what goes on television, what is shown on television but I cannot do anything about that, I can just do the best job possible.

"I had the remit last season of trying to get this club back in to the Premier League - that I was able to do and I have a remit this season of keeping this club in the Premier League and we are a short way into this vision and we are doing okay.

"We have had our ups and downs this season but the league table says we are doing okay, so I can't affect anything that is said. It is of course very unfair, but that is the industry we work in.

"As far as I am concerned I am a strong character and you have to work around these situations...."

Arsene Wenger commented:

"I am pleased with the performance. Saying that, the first goal was certainly the turning point in the game because we had a lot of domination but didn’t take our chances early on in the game. Then Newcastle defended with numbers behind the ball and it became difficult to score. 

"We were lucky with the first goal just before half time - that was certainly a blow for Newcastle. It put us in a position where we could break much more because Newcastle had to come out and that’s basically what happened in the second half.

"I have to see if Bendtner blocked the central defender on purpose or not (leading up to the second goal). I have to see that again. For me Walcott was well in front of the central defender anyway so I don’t think that has influenced the goal.

"I am taking the competition seriously. I have a big squad at the moment and Cesc Fabregas needs games as well. He played at Manchester City and tonight a little bit so that’s what he needs at the moment."

The Gunners ended United's League Cup hopes for another season at SJP, as they continued their 100% run against us in this competition, registering both a fourth victory and fourth clean sheet.  

However a Newcastle XI featuring just Tim Krul and Mike Williamson from the side that started at West Ham can point at two moments of ill-fortune that cost them dear. In the final seconds of a half in which Arsenal had looked the more composed and threatening but United had arguably the two best chances, the Magpies 'keeper got his name on the scoresheet with an OG. 

Then came the controversial second goal, from which point United's exit was inevitable. Despite that though, Chris Hughton quickly brought on Andy Carroll and Jonas Gutierrez in what was a belated attempt to turn the tie around. If they had been stripped ready to appear at 0-1, then why were risked ahead of the derby game? If we were serious about winning, why didn't a stronger XI start the game?  

That duo plus third sub Joey Barton did inspire Newcastle to threaten the Gunners goal in the closing stages, but Arsenal twice broke away, with Bendtner and Walcott giving the final score a somewhat lop-sided look.

Perhaps inevitably, United's second-choice selection was unbalanced and contained elements of make do and mend, which hardly promoted a consistent pattern of play. Continued sloppiness from Wayne Routledge, Ryan Taylor and Danny Guthrie did little to help the likes of Haris Vuckic and Nile Ranger, while the fruitless attempts of Peter Lovenkrands to find some space almost rendered United's formation 4-6-0 at some points. 

And even with the arrival of Gutierrez and Carroll, the chances that fell to the number nine were mostly self -produced, with Jonas unable to end the game-long lack of service into the box, be it open play or set pieces. Aside from a late Ryan Taylor free kick being blocked by 'keeper Szczesny when it no longer mattered, the two major opportunities for the Magpies arrived in quick succession at 0-0. 

Ranger rounded the 'keeper and for a split second looked to have clear sight of goal, but as he tried to steady himself the chance went and his weak effort was blocked. And then Alan Smith came agonisingly close to breaking his competitive scoring duck for the club on the eve of his 30th birthday. The midfielder unleashed a 30 yard rocket that thumped against and over the Gallowgate crossbar, thanks to a touch from Szczesny that neither Marriner or his linesman were aware of.

Our worries over the needless risk of injuries to Carroll and Jonas ahead of Sunday proved to be unfounded, but Barton collected a booking and could even have walked after clattering through the back of both Craig Eastmond and Cesc Fabregas.

Looking for positives, Vuckic at least kept going and looking to get in on the action throughout, but Ranger did himself few favours and Danny Simpson's place at right back isn't under immediate threat from Ryan Taylor. And now that we're out of this cup, maybe Ranger and one or two others can be sent out on loan to give them some much-needed regular Football League experience.

Ultimately though Arsenal confirmed that they have a bigger and better squad than ours, containing skill, poise and pace that we can only envy. They're still a bunch of cheats though, with some of Wenger's youngsters yet to perfect rolling around on the floor in apparent agony to the required standard.

A reasonable turnout at least had an entertaining evening's entertainment for their money, but ended up as a fourth successive failure to win a match at SJP. Extending that to five just isn't an option. 

Biffa