Guardian:
’Be careful what you wish for. Everyone who called for a meeting between Manchester United and Arsenal that was not full of violence and spite nearly got their way, but they might well have regretted it. Apart from a nasty clash between Robin van Persie and Kieran Richardson, this was a meekly trivial tie.
‘David Bellion's goal within seconds of the kick-off put United into the semi-finals. They were never at much risk of being overhauled.
‘The depth of a club's squad is not always to be measured by head count. These were the fringe players of United and Arsenal, but there was no marked resemblance between them. The visitors had a lineup with half-a-dozen teenagers and 10 players aged 21 or under. If there were to be any more food fights, jelly and ice cream might have been on the menu of missiles.
‘Sir Alex Ferguson's team were far more mature. They were, to sum it up, captained by a man who collected his 50th cap for England at Euro 2004. Phil Neville could look around and see a World Cup winner in Kleberson ready to assist. This, however, was no underhand trick by the Old Trafford manager.
‘It was a natural selection at a club so stacked with experience that one of the recurring problems is how best to blend a first XI. Arsenal appreciated that very well, but foreknowledge is no help and precocity was absent when they lost the opener in 20 seconds.’
Independent:
‘Sir Alex Ferguson had claimed "you would have to buy a ticket" to see whether he shook Arsène Wenger's hand afterwards and your money got you the briefest contact of flesh on flesh after the final whistle. Otherwise, the most hyped and most watched reserve fixture in the history of English football failed to live up to its swollen expectations.
‘Few of Arsène Wenger's eclectically assembled youngsters blossomed and the one shot on target Arsenal managed came courtesy of a free-kick from Jermaine Pennant, who has had long enough to prove his potential.
‘That more than 67,000 came to Old Trafford is testament to the pull this fixture now has on the wider public. It was ironic that the goal which decided the match and gave Ferguson the rare satisfaction of at least two victories over Arsenal in a single season came in the opening minute, when many spectators were still stuck in traffic jams on the M60.
‘The difference in resources available to both managers was evident in the line-ups. While Wenger fielded what he hoped might be the future of the club, Ferguson paraded eight full internationals, some of them very questionable buys.
‘David Bellion has not had the disdain from supporters handed out to Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba but with four specialist strikers obviously ahead of him, the Frenchman must wonder what he is doing at Old Trafford. This was, however, his fifth goal of the season - a remarkable return given his lack of opportunities - and also the quickest.’
Times:
‘Arsene Wenger once likened his feud with Sir Alex Ferguson to a dispute over who “has the prettiest wife at home”. As such, after victory in what was billed as a meeting of the next generations of Arsenal and Manchester United, Ferguson might have been tempted to claim last night that he has the more attractive daughter, but any such conclusions should be taken lightly, given that Arsenal’s teenagers are only beginning to blossom.
‘It was an evening during which Wenger learnt a lot about his youngsters — not least Robin van Persie, who showed that he has something of Dennis Bergkamp’s malicious streak as well as a little of the veteran forward’s guile — and, in the long term, it may prove to have been a more profitable experience for Arsenal than United. Ferguson’s starting line-up included eight internationals and a solitary teenager; all of Arsenal’s outfield players were aged 21 or under. Little wonder that the Arsenal manager, in his post-match interviews, made great play of United’s experience.
‘For Ferguson, any victory over Arsenal will always be sweet, but, aside from the continuation of their recent winning habit, it is hard to assess the validity of the exercise from United’s point of view.
‘Bellion, Miller and Kieron Richardson enjoyed themselves in a way that they have never seemed likely to at Premiership level — as did Kléberson, the Brazil midfield player, before succumbing to an ankle injury in the closing stages — but it is doubtful whether even Ferguson will feel able to draw any long-term conclusions from the match.
‘Certainly, despite what was perhaps his best performance in a United shirt, it is difficult to see Bellion convincing Ferguson that he is anything more than a fifth-choice forward, but he took his goal well.
‘United were always stalked by the menacing presence of Van Persie, who, having escaped punishment for a horrible challenge on Miller in the first half, was lucky not to see red after his ugly and senseless altercation with Richardson 30 seconds into the second period. A mêlée ensued between players from both teams, with Van Persie again fortunate not to be sent off, but, in terms of the great Arsenal-United spats, it was little more than a catfight. In years to come, though, it may be remembered as the start of a new grudge match.’
Telegraph:
‘The most celebrated reserve contest in the world, watched by almost 70,000 live let alone the substantial television audience, was settled by a first-minute winner from Manchester United's fifth-choice striker, David Bellion. An Arsenal side containing six teenagers had no answer.
‘After all the controversy of the seniors' Premiership tussle here, this Carling Cup tie was far quieter, although Robin van Persie and Kieran Richardson could have walked. Afterwards, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger duly shook hands; Ferguson was wreathed in smiles.
‘His team's victory was rooted in Bellion's early enterprise, a defence splendidly marshalled by John O'Shea and a midfield brilliantly organised by Liam Miller, the most impressive performer.
‘Arsenal had their moments, particularly when they attacked with pace down the flanks. But nothing was going to prevent United marching into the semi-finals.
‘United, fanning out in 4-3-3 fashion, looked more of a team, more physically dominant, which was hardly surprising with an outfield average of 23 to Arsenal's 19. Wenger's visitors were so young that two of their number, Djourou and Arturo Lupoli, were not even born when Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford 18 years ago.