LONDON, Dec 3: Arsenal cruised into the quarterfinals of the English League Cup on Tuesday as a virtual reserve team thrashed a full strength Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-1 at Highbury.

In the night’s other fourth round tie Southampton deservedly beat local rivals Portsmouth 2-0 with two goals by England striker James Beattie.

Jeremie Aliadiere got the opening goal in the 24th minute and Nwankwo Kanu, finally found the target from close range in the 68th.

Arsenal then turned on the style as Aliadiere curled in his second three minutes later and Sylvain Wiltord weighed in with his first goal since August.

Alex Rae pulled one back for Wolves in the 81st minute with a spectacular finish but Arsenal had the last word as 16-year-old Spanish forward Francesc Fabregas became the club’s youngest-ever scorer two minutes from time.—Reuters