So another year and we are out of the Carling cup, this time turfed out by a lower league team. Having bundled out Fulham and knocked out Chelsea, Burnley defeated a premier league opponent for the 3rd time in this year’s Carling cup.

I should really be pissed off, out of contention for one of the trophies we were most likely to win is not a good thing, but I’m not because it was fun. Last night could have been another one of those where you left the stadia drooling at the sumptuous football served up by the CCK. When Bendtner was played in for his first 1 on 1 with his compatriot it seemed that we were in for a treat, sadly it was not to be.

Wenger disappointed with goalmouth naivety. . .what did he expect.

Burnley we very well organised but that didn’t stop us from carving out no less than 6 clear cut goal scoring chances. It is easy to blame poor finishing for our loss, it is true that we could have done better with the opportunities presented to us, but we must acknowledge the sterling job done by Burnley’s keeper. Nicklas “pretty in pink” Bendtner did himself no favours with his display in front of goal.

Much will be made about this being an experience for the youngsters, and some of them did acquit themselves well, Gibbs, Merida, and Simpson (who should have started) looked the part. Others not so, I’m thinking Randall, Silvestre, Bendtner, and Vela. It mus be noted that the poorer performances came from the more experienced of the team.

Silvestre has the gall to talk down to the kids when he was possibly the worst of the lot. The 31 year old defender said

“You have got to learn.
They should have won and a lack of concentration has cost us two goals. We had chances and it’s a shame.
It was an opportunity for them to express themselves.
They did but we lost this game and you can see that it will hurt for a while.
If we are not stupid, then we won’t do the same again.”

The end of another entertaining run for the CCK will be remembered with a rue smile, 2 highly entertaining games at the Emirates and a much more honourable exit than that of 2007. Some of these players may go on to take part in the FA cup, others will no doubt be loaned out to further their football education.