sport news Foden and Minamino star and the other WINNERS and LOSERS from this week's ...

sport news Foden and Minamino star and the other WINNERS and LOSERS from this week's ...
sport news Foden and Minamino star and the other WINNERS and LOSERS from this week's ...

Fifty-five goals, penalty shootouts galore and Premier League sides crashing out - who said the Carabao Cup was boring?

This week's third-round action, which saw the English sides competing in Europe enter the competition, certainly did not disappoint. Manchester United and Everton were stung by West Ham and QPR respectively, Tottenham and Chelsea were taken the distance - while Manchester City and Brentford hit a combined total of 13 goals. 

There were also comfortable victories for Arsenal, Liverpool and Leicester while lower league sides Sunderland, Preston and Stoke City are flying the flag for the EFL clubs in the last-16 stage of the competition.

With plenty of action to cover, Sportsmail looks at the winners and losers from this week's round three action...  

This week saw some dramatic Carabao Cup action including West Ham's win at Man United

This week saw some dramatic Carabao Cup action including West Ham's win at Man United

Another shock result saw QPR dump out Everton on penalties in the competition's third round

Another shock result saw QPR dump out Everton on penalties in the competition's third round

WINNERS

Arsenal's strikers put pressure on Aubameyang 

What an easy night for Arsenal. A 3-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon, 10 changes made to the Premier League side and Bernd Leno was not tested once in the Gunners goal.

But while their third round tie was a stroll in the park, Mikel Arteta would have been delighted with the free-scoring nature of his side on Wednesday night.

Gunners captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, rested for the Emirates clash on Wednesday, has not been his usual self over the past 12 months, with the former Premier League Golden Boot winner scoring just 11 top-flight goals since September 2020. 

Alex Lacazette scored for Arsenal to raise the pressure on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Alex Lacazette scored for Arsenal to raise the pressure on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Aubameyang has been short of goals recently and the Arsenal captain is now under pressure

Aubameyang has been short of goals recently and the Arsenal captain is now under pressure

Now the Gabon forward must be concerned after watching Alex Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah find the net against the Dons, as the pressure on the 32-year-old's squad status intensifies. 

Lacazette, who is yet to start a Premier League game for the Gunners this season, opened the scoring for Arsenal on Wednesday night by converting from the penalty spot, before Nketiah rounded off the scoring by flicking home late on with a clever finish.

Nketiah and Lacazette were deemed forgotten men at Arsenal at the start of this season, but Wednesday night shows they could yet have good seasons after all. 

Fellow Gunners striker Eddie Nketiah also found the net in a 3-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon

Fellow Gunners striker Eddie Nketiah also found the net in a 3-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon

Foden up and running at the right time 

Another player making a slow start to the season is Manchester City's Phil Foden, with an injury picked up at Euro 2020 delaying any good form he was hoping to achieve this campaign.

But the 21-year-old appears to have turned a corner after putting in a man-of-the-match display in City's 6-1 win over Wycombe. 

With Pep Guardiola's side 1-0 down to the League One side, Foden set up Kevin de Bruyne's equaliser before smashing in a long-range thunderbolt to put his side 3-1 up for his first of the season. 

Phil Foden got his Manchester City season up and running in a 6-1 victory over Wycombe

Phil Foden got his Manchester City season up and running in a 6-1 victory over Wycombe

Foden then went on to set up Ferran Torres' goal for 4-1 to cap off an excellent display for the England man, who is now up and running at an important time for City.

Following the club's failed attempt to sign Harry Kane and a 0-0 draw with Southampton raising concerns about a lack of attacking options at the Etihad Stadium, Foden needs to become an attacking influence to support the likes of Gabriel Jesus and an out-of-form Raheem Sterling.

Guardiola's men face a crucial week with daunting trips to Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool. Anything close to some replica performances from Foden would help the Premier League champions out massively. 

Foden scored a long-range howitzer and set up two more goals in the Etihad Stadium win

Foden scored a long-range howitzer and set up two more goals in the Etihad Stadium win

West Ham show they DO have squad depth

There was some concern at the start of the season about West Ham's squad depth ahead of their first season of European group stage action to deal with. 

At the start of the season, goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was the only new face and many predicted that David Moyes' side would struggle with the workload as they combine the task of improvement in the domestic competitions with Thursday night European action. 

But the signings of Kurt Zouma, Nikola Vlasic and Alex Kral have helped ease the pressure on the squad and a near-flawless start to the season shows they are capable of handling the trials and tribulations.

West Ham made 10 changes for their Old Trafford win as their good start to the term continues

West Ham made 10 changes for their Old Trafford win as their good start to the term continues

Wednesday night's 1-0 victory at Manchester United came after Moyes made 10 changes to his side, with Jarrod Bowen the only player who began last Sunday's 2-1 defeat by the Red Devils on Sunday. 

The Hammers took an early lead through Manuel Lanzini and were very much in control of the tie against a much changed Man United team. Moyes' men managed to limit the Red Devils to a handful of chances overall, including very few in the second half.

West Ham will need the squad depth as their Europa League endeavors impact their team, but their second string side have shown they can deliver on the biggest of stages.

David Moyes will be thrilled that his back-up players are capable of competing at a high level

David Moyes will be thrilled that his back-up players are capable of competing at a high level

Minamino gets chance to impress 

Life has not exactly got well for Takumi Minamino so far at Liverpool. 

The Japanese forward went into the Reds' 3-0 Carabao Cup win at Norwich with just four Liverpool goals to his name despite joining the club at the start of 2020. A loan spell with Southampton at the back end of last season threatened to spell the end of his time at Anfield.

But the 26-year-old added two

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