▁introduced ▁gu idel ines ▁to ▁prevent ▁the ▁withdraw al ▁of ▁clubs ▁from ▁the ▁competition . ▁The ▁final ▁was ▁scheduled ▁a ▁week ▁before ▁the ▁final ▁week end ▁of ▁the ▁Premier ▁League , ▁to ▁aid ▁any ▁successful ▁club ▁playing ▁European ▁football . ▁ ▁Ar sen al ▁ ▁Ar sen al ▁entered ▁the ▁competition ▁in ▁the ▁third ▁round ▁and ▁their ▁cup ▁run ▁started ▁with ▁an ▁away ▁tie ▁against ▁Carl is le ▁United . ▁Although ▁the ▁home ▁side ▁created ▁numerous ▁ch ances ▁in ▁the ▁opening ▁minutes ▁and ▁looked ▁lik eli est ▁to ▁score , ▁Ar sen al ▁took ▁the ▁lead ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 2 nd ▁minute ▁through ▁Syl v ain ▁W ilt ord . ▁Po or ▁finishing ▁from ▁both ▁teams ▁there after ▁meant ▁Ar sen al ▁progress ed ▁by ▁a ▁sl ender ▁sc or eline . ▁In ▁the ▁fourth ▁round , ▁Ar sen al ▁faced ▁Queens ▁Park ▁R angers ▁at ▁Lo ft us ▁Road . ▁The ▁visitors ' ▁first ▁goal ▁came ▁around ▁the ▁half - hour ▁mark ; ▁def ender ▁Ash ley ▁Cole ▁cleared ▁Peter ▁Cr ouch ' s ▁goal - bound ▁header ▁and ▁from ▁that ▁Ar sen al ▁launched ▁a ▁counter att ack . ▁Lee ▁D ixon ' s ▁cross ▁in ad vert ently ▁met ▁Chris ▁Pl um mer ▁who ▁scored ▁an ▁own ▁goal . ▁W ilt ord ▁extended ▁Ar sen al ' s ▁lead ▁a ▁minute ▁later , ▁and ▁Q PR ▁conced ed ▁another ▁own ▁goal ▁early ▁in ▁the ▁second ▁half ▁which ▁se aled ▁the ▁tie ▁in ▁the ▁visitors ' ▁favour . ▁Ar sen