Wenger applauds the performance of the young guns in the Carling Cup [GALLO/GETTY]

Wenger sent a team out with an average age of 19 on Tuesday and was rewarded with a 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield United as the young Gunners stood up to be counted.

Several of them have already had a taste of the first team, including hat-trick-scoring Carlos Vela and his two-goal strike partner Nicklas Bendtner, while others have barely secured their places in the youth team.

Wenger's philosophy

All of them, however, seemed to have absorbed Wenger's footballing philosophy as they zipped the ball around the Emirates pitch and counter-attacked with a speed and precision that left the experienced Championship side chasing shadows.

"I believe that the team played football the way we want to play, it was very pleasing," Wenger said.

"I'm not as surprised as you because I see them every day but you never know how they'll respond on the big stage.

"I wouldn't be scared to play any individual of this 11 in the Premier League, altogether I don't know, but all the individual players who played have the talent."

Carlos Vela notched up a hat-trick in the Carling Cup [GALLO/GETTY]

Wenger will revert to most of the players who have taken Arsenal to the top of the league for Saturday's game, though several of the youngsters will be on the bench.

The Frenchman says that the change of rules this season to allow seven, instead of five, substitutes to be named, has helped him ease the youngsters in.

"They start to taste and to smell the importance of the games and the pressure in the dressing rooms," said Wenger.

"They see how the experienced players handle it."

Hull content

It's all pretty new to Hull too, but they are enjoying their first taste of top-flight football having notched up two wins and two draws from their opening five games.

Saturday's game will be the first league meeting between the clubs for 93 years and only their fifth in all.

Conversely Everton and Liverpool will meet at Goodison Park for the 179th Merseyside league derby.

Liverpool inconsistent

Liverpool have already shown signs of the inconsistency that has prevented them launching a serious title challenge in recent years as they followed up victory over Manchester United with a goalless draw against Stoke City at Anfield.

The Potteries team will probably employ the same defensive tactics when they host Chelsea and there will be few complaints from the home fans if they secure another 0-0 draw.

Manchester United, struggling to find any momentum in the early weeks of their title defence, are at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Magpies ailing

Study in despondency: United players in the loss to Spurs [GALLO/GETTY]

St. James' Park was well less than half full when the Magpies lost 2-1 at home to Tottenham in the League Cup on Wednesday, the thousands of empty seats reflecting the crisis at a club without a major title in almost 40 years.

With owner Mike Ashley travelling around the world to try to sell the club, there is speculation that former England coach Terry Venables might be hired as a short-term manager before a new owner makes a full time appointment.

Although the season is only six weeks old, there is a danger that a leaderless Newcastle will fall further away from mid-table and  remain in serious relegation trouble.

Right now, Chris Hughton, who was third in the hierarchy under the departed Kevin Keegan and Terry McDermott, is in charge of selecting and coaching the team.

"Irrespective of what has gone at the club, when you are on a run of defeats, then it does affect confidence," the former defender said after the loss to Spurs.

"All you can do as coaches is pick the players up, look at the positives from the game and, irrespective of how disappointed we are at this particular moment, there are some positives from the game.

"We have a game on Saturday that I still believe we are capable of winning."