The Gunners made it 13 games unbeaten in all competitions courtesy of a brace from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as the joint-Premier League leaders saw off their Championship opponents 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.Wenger used the last-16 tie to field a host of youngsters and fringe men with nine changes to the XI which was held to a goalless draw against Middlesbrough in the league on Saturday.
That is a positive of the result here, when the players win they gain confidence and they know they will get a game.
Arsene Wenger
And the French tactician claims they will continue to get chances to shine as the Gunners look forward to a quarter-final appearance.
Wenger said: “I think that the players did well. I felt Rob (Holding) did well, Ainsley (Maitland-Niles) played some nice passes and Jeff (Reine-Adelaide) had a good game too.
“If you are still in all the competitions it is not to hard (to give the whole squad a game).
“That is a positive of the result here, when the players win they gain confidence and they know they will get a game.
“We have three top goalkeepers and (Emiliano Martinez) knows he will get a game if we win. It is a good incentive.”
Meanwhile, Wenger also praised Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has now scored five goals in 12 appearances this season, despite only making three Premier League starts.
He added: “I feel that before (Alex) looked nervous when he was in front of the goal and now we hope that he will continue to go forward and this will build his confidence.
“He has been working really hard in training. That is now showing on the pitch.
“His concentration and his focus have improved, he is much sharper and he will continue to do well.
“(To start games in the Premier League) he needs to keep playing like that.”
Arsenal are now 4/1 to lift the EFL Cup, while the Gunners are 4/11 to win in Saturday’s Premier League trip to bottom club Sunderland. The Black Cats are 7/1 to secure a first win of the season and the draw is 15/4.
Source: bet365.com