London: Manchester City progressed to the semi-finals of the League Cup at the expense of Arsenal after a 1-0 victory in an end to-end enthralling encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Arsenal's hopes of making the semi-finals for the fifth time in seven seasons were dashed by a City team containing two former Gunners - playmaker Samir Nasri, who joined in the summer for 25 million Pounds, and defender Kolo Toure.
City, who are five points clear at the top of the Premier League, transferred their form to the Carling Cup, edging past Arsenal thanks to Sergio Aguero's goal on the counter-attack. Having come off the bench midway through the first half, Aguero met a pass from Adam Johnson with a thumping shot past Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski as City eliminated Arsene Wenger's side in the quarter-finals for the second time in three seasons.
"It's better to win here in the Premier League," City manager Roberto Mancini said. "But it's a good feeling because we're in the semi-finals of this competition."
In a frenetic game, both sides had chances to open the scoring within the first ten minutes. First it was the visitors who went close, midfielder Adam Johnson cut in from the right-hand side before unleashing a left-foot dipping strike. A foot lower and Fabianski would have been left stranded.
The hosts in response went even closer to opening the scoring, Park Chu-Young's shot from close range producing a glorious save from Costel Pantilimon. Stefan Savic made sure it wasn't going to trickle in by hacking it away to safety.
England Under-21 star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain caused mischief throughout the match and had most of the players he took on back-pedalling. The first was Nigel De Jong, who didn't know which way the teenager was going to go. He stood off him, allowing the youngster to have a pop from 25-yards which again produced a stunning save from Pantilimon.
Nasri looked to struggle on his return to the Emirates as the Gunners faithful made sure he had an unwelcome return. Every time Nasri touched the ball, he was booed, and the France international was also on the receiving end of a number of chants, including "You only quit for the money."
Arsenal officials were also forced to reject rumors that punches were thrown between Nasri and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong in the tunnel after the match, saying that only words were exchanged. There appeared to be tensions between the two during the match.
City made a substitution in the first-half bringing on striker Aguero for full-back Alexandar Kolarov, who didn't seem happy that he was being replaced only half an hour into his night. And Aguero too looked to struggle as Arsenal soaked up the visitors' pressure before trying to beat them on the counter.
The second-half opened at the same pace as the first, striker Edin Dzeko making goalkeeper Fabianski scramble across his line with a curled effort that didn't have enough finesse on the shot.
Oxlade-Chamberlain produced another fine drive from range; this time it was the turn of Zabaleta to stand off him. He cut in from the right-hand side before stinging Pantilimon's hands as he punched clear.
Former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves tried to score from outside the box but he shot high into the crowd behind the goal before Chamakh had an attempt at the other end which went as wide as Hargreaves' went high.
Oxlade-Chamberlain tried for a third time to beat Pantilimon but again shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Sergio Aguero finally opened the scoring with seven minutes remaining, with the move taken directly out of the Arsenal textbook. The hosts were dispossessed from a corner and the ball was taken out wide by Edin Dzeko. He ran down the touchline and into the middle of the park before cutting the defence open with a through ball to Adam Johnson. His pivot set up Aguero, who slotted past Fabianski to take the visitors into the semi-finals.
In the other matches on Tuesday, Liverpool went through to the semi-finals after a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with goals from Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly.
Second-tier Cardiff beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0. Scotland striker Kenny Miller gave Cardiff the lead in the 19th against Blackburn Rovers before Anthony Gerrard - the cousin of Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard - wrapped up the win five minutes after the break for the team currently third from top in the League Championship.
Manchester United will look to become the third north-west power to make the semi-finals when they host Crystal Palace in Wednesday's only match.
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