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LONDON: Arsenal's young stars were upstaged by Burnley's own talented rookie as Kevin McDonald gave the Championship club a shock 2-0 win in the League Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger kept faith with the precocious teenagers who routed Wigan in the previous round.
But his side, who had an average age of 19, came unstuck in freezing conditions at Turf Moor and failed to reach at least the semi-finals for the first time in four years.
They were dumped out by McDonald, a 20-year-old Scottish midfielder signed from Dundee in pre-season.
McDonald struck early in the first half and added his second after the interval as Owen Coyle's team followed their wins over Chelsea and Fulham earlier in the competition with another famous scalp to reach the last four.
Wenger conceded that his kids still have a lot to learn and said: "We had six one on ones and didn't score and we were a bit fragile at the back.
"We had plenty of chances and if you don't score you have to question if you will go through.
"The young players have to learn that football is about efficiency from the first minute to the last. If you don't have that you pay for it. They have a lot to learn but the potential is there."
Burnley can look forward to their first semi-final for 25 years and boss Coyle believes his own youngsters deserve credit for the way they stood up to Arsenal.
"A lot was made of Arsenal's youngsters but I've got five or six kids in my team as well and we have shown we can play a bit as well," he said.
"You could see the quality Arsenal have and if you switch off you get punished. Our keeper made some great saves but to reach the semi-finals is a magnificent achievement for everyone at the football club."
Meanwhile, Derby reached their first major semi-final since 1968 after Nathan Ellington's stoppage time penalty secured a dramatic 1-0 win over Premier League club Stoke.
Paul Jewell's side were heading for extra-time at the Britannia Stadium after Richard Cresswell had a goal disallowed and Miles Addison hit a post.
But Ellington converted from the spot after referee Rob Styles ruled that Andy Griffin had handled a cross in the penalty area.
On Wednesday, the other two quarter-final ties see Manchester United host Blackburn and Tottenham travel to Championship team Watford. - AFP/de
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