Arsene Wenger patrolled the dugout at Eastlands in a long dark coat and his mood seemed to match his outfit.

Arsenal exited the Carling Cup and are no nearer to ending a four-year wait for a trophy after a 3-0 thrashing by Manchester City.

The Gunners had a good opportunity to clinch a place in the semi-finals of the competition and give the club's supporters something to cheer about.

Arsenal after all had a chance to make amends after the humbling by Chelsea which left them 11 points adrift of the Barclays Premier League leaders.

City, meanwhile, had lost that winning habit in the league after a run of seven successive draws.

Wenger has seen his squad riddled with injuries with Robin van Persie, Gael Clichy, Kieran Gibbs, Nicklas Bendtner, Abou Diaby and Johan Djourou all absent.

However, instead of going with those senior players who were fit the Gunners boss opted to give his talented youngsters another run-out - Carlos Vela, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Fran Merida and Craig Eastmond all started.

Arsenal were outclassed with the travelling fans left to reflect that the last time they won a trophy was in 2005 when the FA Cup was secured.

Wenger has used the domestic competitions to blood youngsters but surely his policy demands a re-think with the title a long shot and it is only December.

For City, though, there are dreams of lifting the League Cup for the first time since 1976 thanks to marvellous goals from Carlos Tevez, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Vladimir Weiss.

It is the first time they have secured a place in the semi-finals of a major domestic competition since 1981.

Manager Mark Hughes had seen fit to defend the role played by agents after figures released by the Premier League placed City top of the table.

Their £12,874,283 made up a substantial portion of the overall outlay of over £70million by England's top flight.

Tevez was one who arrived after crossing the city from Manchester United in the summer and those vast sums will not concern the fans one jot after his contribution in this quarter-final.

With so much riding on this game for both clubs it was little wonder the first half was a bit scrappy with the more experienced City side having the edge.

They carved out three good chances but Emmanuel Adebayor and Tevez were wasteful in front of goal.

Adebayor, whose celebration in the victory against his former club in September prompted outrage among the visiting Arsenal fans, nearly opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

He sent a header into goalkeeper Lucasz Fabianski's arms from close range before Craig Bellamy dragged a shot wide.

Arsenal were again forced on the back foot when Tevez went on a surging run only to see his effort parried by the goalkeeper.

With such an untested side, Arsenal struggled to get going in the first half and the only effort of note came when Vela made space in the area but he sent his effort over the top.

City's pressure paid off in the 50th minute when Tevez broke the deadlock with a superb goal.

He cut in from the left, weaved past defenders then saw his effort find the net via the underside of the bar.

It was his fifth goal for City and Arsenal caved in after that with Wright-Phillips adding a second in the 69th minute with a blistering shot from wide right.

Substitute Weiss sealed the victory on the stroke of full-time, leaving Wenger with much to ponder on during the 200-mile journey home.