Wenger’s international bright young things dismantle Wigan. United rely on a late Tevez spot kick to see off QPR, while Stoke’s reserves have too much for Rotherham, even without Delap’s slingshot. Here’s the notes from tonight’s games in the Care Less Cup…

Arsenal’s young guns will steal the headlines off the back of another sparkling display at the Emirates. Steve Bruce made just one change to the side that drew at home to Stoke at the weekend, De Ridder coming in for hamstring victim, Emile Heskey. Despite being the only Premiership boss to name a full strength side, Bruce saw his team outclassed by an Arsenal side with an average age of 19.

A brace from Jay Simpson and another sumptuous goal from Vela sealed the win – the Emirates PA system blasting out Teenage Kicks as Wigan trooped dejectedly off the pitch.

There’s little to take from this as a fantasy managers except the consistent decline of Wigan as a force, and their top scorer Amr Zaki as a form player. The Latics have just one of their last eight games and have scored just 4 goals in that run, conceding 14.

Zaki meanwhile is slipping, slowly but surely, out of favour. He failed to convert a golden opportunity tonight, denied a goal late on by a staggering Fabianski save after the Gunners keeper had palmed De Ridder’s effort into his path. Zaki should have given him no chance. He has now struck just a single goal in the last five games – a cause from concern, particularly as the likes of Bent, Cisse and Andrew Johnson begin to find form and offer fantasy alternatives.

I’m keeping the faith with the Egyptian for now. Wigan need to find some form to prevent a slide into the bottom three and with Newcastle, Everton and West Brom to come over the next three, Wigan and Zaki have the opponents to help get their season back on track. Form and confidence must be low however, and the trip to St James’ Park this weekend is a crucial game.

As for Arsenal, it’s baffling why Vela isn’t getting more first team opportunities given his obvious talent and the absence of Adebayor and Van Persie. His time may come this season but Eduardo due for a return in December, it seems unlikely that Vela will get the opportunities to emerge as a fantasy force this season. It’s worth noting that familiar faces in Arsenal’s Carling Cup lineup – Bendtner, Denislon and Diaby were all out of the picture tonight – they are all set to start again at the weekend against Villa then.

While Wenger’s kids dazzled at the Emirates, Ferguson saw his second string struggle to overcome Championship QPR at Old Trafford. Tevez eventually scored the winner from the spot on 72 minutes.

Ferguson’s lineup did boast some experienced players with Neville in central defence, O’Shea at left back and Park, Anderson and Nani in midfield. Tevez got a rare start as a lone figure up front. Does this offer any clues to Ferguson’s likely lineup against Stoke this weekend?

We know that Ferguson is unlikely to hand Neville two starts in the space of a week, so Rafael could well start again at right back as he did tonight, unless Wes Brown is fit to return.

Park started at Arsenal so he will surely be set to make way in midfield, although Nani could well take his place with Ferguson opting for two wingers in Nani and Ronaldo to help stretch what is likely to be a stubborn, defensive Stoke side. Fletcher could be a factor in that, although there’s no news as yet as to his fitness after he missed the Arsenal game.

Anderson is another who could be safe but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him benched with Carrick and Giggs forming the central midfield pairing. As for Tevez, he seems unlikely to get the Premiership start he craves. Berbatov wasn’t even in the squad for this game but it appears that Ferguson is likely to turn to him for the magic to unlock the Stoke rearguard, with Rooney restored alongside him. There’s still a chance that he will turn instead to the industry of a Tevez and Rooney partnership but we’ll have to wait for the reaction from the United camp and the build up to the weekend, to gain clues on that situation. I’ll keep my ear to the ground.

Finally, Tony Pulis kept five first teamers on the bench for Stoke’s tie with Rotheram but saw fit to make an array of changes to his selection. Only Shawcross and Olofinjana started from the side that drew with Wigan and it was goals from Pugh and Whelan that saw them through to the Quarter Finals. Little to worry or consider from this one then. Something tells me that Pulis will make a few changes for the trip to Old Trafford.