LONDON - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his young guns can go one better than last season and win the Carling Cup.
Wenger's supremely-talented crop of young fringe players were beaten finalists against Chelsea at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in February.
But the manner in which they dispatched Blackburn at Ewood Park in last night's 3-2 quarter-final victory has encouraged Wenger that silverware beckons this time around.
"We want to finish the job now," said the Frenchman.
"We got a taste of the final last year and now we are in a semi-final again.
"Beating Blackburn shows it was not a coincidence last year and we now have two big games in the semi-final which will take up a lot of energy."
Wenger admitted he would like to face Tottenham after his rookies embarrassed their sworn enemies with a 5-3 aggregate success in last season's semi-final.
What cannot be denied is that Arsenal are again on the march in a competition which has had more than its fair share of detractors in recent years.
Resting virtually every member of his first-choice starting line-up for Carling Cup ties has led to accusations that Wenger is further devaluing the much-maligned trophy.
But his young players continue to do themselves, their club and the competition proud.
Mark Randall, an 18-year-old winger from Milton Keynes making his third appearance in Arsenal's first team, showed rich promise against Blackburn.
Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, 19, displayed a maturity which belied his tender years, often proving too quick and too clever for Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba.
Swiss defender Philippe Senderos, 22, skippered a side with an average age of less than 21.
He told Arsenal TV online: "It was strange for me to be one of the oldest.
"Eduardo was the oldest of all so we were having a laugh with him about that because normally he is one of the youngest at 24.
"But these players have played in this competition and also played in the Champions League last week.
"So we are getting stronger because we have the experience now."
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho last year proposed that top flight clubs should be allowed to field B teams in the Coca-Cola Championship.
But Wenger was last night asked whether his second-string could hold their own in the Barclays Premier League.
"It's difficult to say but they are all Premier League players," said Wenger.
"The quality is not questionable. The only thing you could question is whether such a young side can last the whole season.
"But quality-wise it would certainly be no problem."
Perhaps the biggest plus for Wenger was the way his players not only outclassed Blackburn, but matched them physically too.
"I always believe strongly in these players and I'm not surprised by this result," said Wenger.
"It was a physical and a mental test during a big part of the game and they stood up to it."
Meanwhile, young Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone, 19, has signed a new contract with the Gunners.
Mannone joined Arsenal in July 2005 and gained valuable experience at the start of last season during a loan spell at Barnsley.
