United, who have won the trophy for the past two seasons, found themselves 2-0 down before half-time after Jonathan Spector, a former Old Trafford trainee, struck twice. And another double, from England striker Carlton Cole midway through the second-half, sealed victory for the Hammers.
US defender Spector had never scored before during his six seasons in English football yet before 40 minutes were on the clock he had netted twice against the holders, who came into this match on the back of a 7-1 league thrashing of Blackburn Rovers.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes to the side that beat Rovers, with only Anderson remaining. Ferguson, while unrepentant over his decision to field a youthful side, told Sky Sports, “We made a few errors on the goals and really you can’t give away goals like that, even though they are young”.
Meanwhile, Arsenal beat Wigan 2-0 thanks to an Antolin Alcaraz own-goal and a second-half effort from forward Nicklas Bendtner.
Arsenal’s hopes of winning a first major trophy since 2005 appeared to have received a massive boost with United’s exit but manager Arsene Wenger was taking nothing for granted. “You have seen it in the Premier League, and on Tuesday with West Ham. It can happen to Manchester United, to Chelsea and to us this season.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2010.
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