Arsenal showed that the addition of fire to their trademark flair extends to every member of Arsène Wenger’s talented squad in qualifying for the Carling Cup quarter-finals. And they did so at a canter at Bramall Lane last night, despite Sheffield United’s best efforts to expose their perceived soft centre and dislike of the attritional approach.

United had achieved that at this venue last season, when the clubs met in the top flight, outmuscling and outfighting Arsenal to record a 1-0 win. But there was never any danger of a recurrence, despite Wenger making 11 changes to the starting line-up that had begun Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield in the Barclays Premier League.

As is his wont in this competition, the Arsenal manager used the game as an outing for the players on the fringe of his first team and a proving ground for some of the club’s talented youngsters. Moreover, his typically cosmopolitan collection included eight full international players, not least a World Cup winner in Gilberto Silva and Eduardo da Silva, the Brazil-born Croatia striker.

Eduardo has done his bit to scupper England’s chances of qualifying for Euro 2008 by scoring one of his adopted country’s goals in the 2-0 win in Zagreb last year. And the manner in which he opened Arsenal’s account here last night served as an ominous warning to England when the countries meet again at Wembley this month.

The build-up to the first goal was as simple as the execution was brutal. Alexandre Song moved the ball out of defence to Nicklas Bendtner, whose cross-field pass found Eduardo. From there the striker took one touch before, 20 yards from Ian Bennett’s goal, he lashed a left-foot shot into the roof of the net. Such was the ferocity and accuracy of the shot that Bennett could not get a touch, despite a brave attempt.

Eduardo’s second, which effectively put the game beyond United, could hardly have been more contrasting. Set up by a long pass forward from Kieran Gibbs, Eduardo opted for precision as opposed to power to beat Bennett.

As if to add to England’s sense of foreboding, however, Wenger believes that Eduardo is still searching for top gear after his £8 million move from Dynamo Zagreb in the summer. “When I sign a player I don’t judge him during the first six months,” Wenger said. “He started well for us but dipped because he had an injury. I’ll start to look at him in January and February.”

While Eduardo is being granted plenty of time to acclimatise, Lukasz Fabianski, another summer signing, captained the team in only his second appearance. That the Poland goalkeeper was given the armband in preference to Gilberto served only to fuel rumours of a rift between the midfield player and his manager.

Wenger, though, dismissed the suggestion, albeit with a bizarre logic. “I didn’t give the captaincy to Gilberto at the start of the season, so I didn’t want to give it to him tonight and then take it away again,” he said. “There is no problem between us.”

There was no evidence of any sulking from Gilberto, not least when he blocked Chris Lucketti’s shot on the line to deny the home side what would have been a deserved reward for their endeavour. By then, Denilson had added a third, but for Bryan Robson, the United manager, Eduardo’s second proved the decisive blow.

“We competed well in the first half, but the second goal killed us,” he said. “Arsenal pass the ball so well that you have no chance of coming back at them when they’re 2-0 up.”

Sheffield United (4-4-2): I Bennett – L Bromby, C Lucketti, C Morgan, C Armstrong – D Carney, N Montgomery, M Tonge (sub: K Gillespie, 75min), S Quinn (sub: D Webber, 63) – B Sharp, J Stead (sub: A Quinn, 63). Substitutes not used: P Gerrard, M Kilgallon.

Arsenal (4-4-2): L Fabianski – L Diarra, A Song, J Hoyte, K Gibbs – T Walcott (sub: H Lansbury, 83), Denilson, Gilberto Silva, A Diaby (sub: F Merida, 88) – Eduardo da Silva (sub: N Barazite, 86), N Bendtner. Substitutes not used: V Mannone, J Hoyte.

Referee: M Dean.

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