Jack Wilshere steals the headlines as Arsenal win

Arsenal 2 West Brom 0. This time last year, the world was cooing over the 16-year-old Jack Wilshere, having scored his debut Arsenal goal in a 6-0 hammering of Sheffield United. Last night the honour of notching a first strike for the Gunners fell to Sanchez Watt, an 18-year-old from the Emirates production line,  who broke the deadlock on 68 minutes with a simple tap in after a shot from Carlos Vela was parried by West Brom's busy keeper Dean Kiely.

But Wilshere's name will also be associated with this third round Carling Cup tie, for the impressive string pulling from midfield which explained why some are calling him the club's most promising youngster since Cesc Fabregas,  but also for the incident which saw West Brom's Jerome Thomas sent off late on in the first half.

Thomas, a former Arsenal player himself, went to shake Wilshere's hand after a late challenge on the 17-year-old. The young Gunner brushed away the West Brom player's attempt at reconciliation and Thomas grabbed him by the throat, leading to a straight red card.

"It was a red card," admitted West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo. "My player went to shake the Arsenal player’s hand, he refused and then reacted. There was an exchange of words, then there was a reaction. I know what was said, but I’m not saying that. I’m disappointed that Wilshere didn’t accept his hand."

Despite the sending off, the visitors remained combative into the second period, and refused to be awed by all the media hype that accompanies Arsene Wenger's annual unveiling of Arsenal's unpolished gems. Watts' strike was followed by a goal from Mexican international Vela, a veteran of these matches at 20, who followed up his hat-trick against Sheffield United last year with an easy finish after debutant Mark Randall had seen his brilliant chip come off the post.

Wenger's comments on the sending off of former charge Thomas provided a useful warning to his current young Gunners not to take anything for granted. "Jerome was a bit impulsive, very talented, sometimes nervy and impatient as well,” Wenger said. “He lacked confidence when he was younger, but he seems to have found that now." ·