• Carling Cup

Walcott hits two as Arsenal thrash Newcastle

Theo Walcott scored twice © PA Photos

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Arsenal took another step towards a first major trophy in five years by easing past Newcastle United 4-0 in the Carling Cup fourth-round clash at St James' Park.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who has broken with tradition by prioritising the competition this season, was rewarded for his bold team selection.

Theo Walcott was one of several first-team regulars handed a start by the Frenchman, and his brace did much to fuel Arsenal's charge into the last eight.

A calamitous own goal from Magpies 'keeper Tim Krul gave the visitors the lead, before two Walcott strikes - with a Nicklas Bendtner thunderbolt sandwiched between them - made the game safe.

West Ham relieved the pressure building around Avram Grant's head by beating Stoke City 3-1 after extra time. Kenwyne Jones gave the visitors the lead when he climbed highest to meet Jermaine Pennant's corner, before Scott Parker boosted his beleaguered boss by turning in an equaliser with six minutes to play.

A piece of magic from Mark Noble broke the deadlock in extra-time - the midfielder slipped his way through a series of defenders before laying the ball on for Manuel da Costa, who made no mistake with the finish. On-loan striker Victor Obinna continued his impressive form by sealing the victory with the third.

Ten-man Aston Villa edged out Burnley 2-1 in a dramatic tie at Villa Park. Emile Heskey's strike on 86 minutes looked to have kept Gerard Houllier on course for another Carling Cup triumph, but Clarke Carlisle's last-gasp equaliser meant that the teams would be forced into an additional period.

Stewart Downing's goal in extra-time allowed Villa to reclaim the lead, but Marc Albrighton's subsequent red card made life harder for them than it should have been.

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