Football FanCast columnist Alex Dimond reacts to Arsene Wenger praise of his young guns and wonders if last night's performance has more than vindicated the Frenchman's faith in investing in youth.

Arsene Wenger sat in the dugout at the Emirates last night, and proceeded to watch his youngest ever Arsenal side demolish Sheffield United 6-0 in the Carling Cup, leading him to proclaim them "the best group of youngsters I have had in all my time at the club."

Carlos Vela, the 19-year-old Mexican, scored a hat-trick for the Gunners, as Nicholas Bendtner (2) and 16-year-old Jack Wilshere also got on the scoresheet.

Sheffield United could have few complaints at the final whistle, as they were completely torn apart by the technical ability and energy of their youthful opponents.

Wenger, speaking to The Daily Telegraph, believes the team can go far in this year's competition, after falling in the latter stages in previous years:

"We want to win the trophy this season, why not?" he said.

"The only pressure you have is that when you go through the rounds towards the semi-finals, everybody says, 'Now you have to change all these players'.

"No matter how far we go, we have to stick to our policy."

However, Wenger went further, admitting that he would be more than happy to throw his young charges into Premiership football:

"They might be young but they don't play like kids. I wouldn't be scared to play any of them in the Premier League because they all have the talent to play at the top level."

"They are the best group I've ever had because there is not one player in any position who does not have the real quality of the Premier League."

Nevertheless, Wenger admitted that he was always under "immense pressure" to buy established stars for the first-team - but having witnessed last night's performance at the Emirates, he will do all he can to resist the temptation:

"Now for us the biggest challenge is to keep them together and slowly integrate them into the first team. Some have done that already."

"When you are under immense pressure to buy in every transfer window, you know that you have these players behind and it would be killing the work we have done."

It is hard not to agree with the Frenchman's point. Vela, last night's star performer, already finds his first team opportunities limited by the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin Van Persie, and Samir Nasri - amongst others. Adding another established name into the mix would only hinder the Mexican's chance of progression.

This scenario can be repeated for almost every young Gunner that took the field last night - only two of which were not teenagers.

If Arsenal start to struggle in the league, then the clamour for big signings will undoubtedly increase. But while the North London club sit proudly at the top of the Premiership and sweep all before them in the cup competitions; it is extremely hard to argue with Wenger's vision.

The Frenchman seems more than happy with the young squad he has amassed. The question now is, can he take them on to success that the club so dearly crave?

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