Arsenal youngster Robin van Persie scored a brace to cap his fine attacking performance and send his side into the fourth round of the Carling Cup at the expense of Sunderland.

Robert Pires and Thierry Henry combined in comical fashion to miss a spot-kick at the weekend, but Van Persie made no mistake with his midway through the second half at the Stadium of Light, a fitting reward for his endeavour.

Emmanuel Eboue had given the visitors the lead with a spectacular opener on the hour mark and Van Persie capped the win with a cool finish after 86 minutes.

While Arsenal's youngsters looked the part individually, it was the young Dutchman who galvanised their performance.

Without a goal since the opening day of the season when he netted against Newcastle, the youngster was also sent off in the Champions League but his response was to impress in a fixture where both managers fielded weakened teams to emphasise the importance of the Barclays Premiership.

Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy, however, had retained Steve Caldwell, Liam Lawrence, Andy Welsh, Nyron Nosworthy and Justin Hoyte, who all played in the defeat to Newcastle two days previously - but it was Arsenal who looked fresher in the opening exchanges.

Jon Stead and Anthony Le Tallec were in attack for the hosts but the pair - short on appearances, goals and confidence - rarely troubled Sol Campbell, who played as he looked to build his match fitness after long-term injury.

Hoyte, on a season-long loan at Sunderland from Highbury, was looking to impress and he looked comfortable on the ball and a threat going forward.

While Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Arturo Lupoli - both prolific at every level under the first team - showed glimpses of their promise, it was Van Persie who created chances.

After 15 minutes it proved too frustrating for Martin Woods, who hacked at the Holland youngster and was lucky to escape a caution.

Lupoli was also brought down on the edge of the area but Van Persie was wasteful with the free-kick, the ugly set-piece blasted over the bar.

The 22-year-old should have opened the scoring in the 29th minute, latching on to Sebastian Larsson's through ball but failing to curl his effort around Alnwick before the danger was cleared.

Lawrence responded a minute later but his shot from long distance lacked power and was easily saved by Manuel Almunia, as were a number of efforts from the hosts in a first half high on energy but low on final product.

Nosworthy was the first player to be cautioned, tripping Owusu-Abeyie in the 31st minute when the youngster set off on an exciting run, illustrating the dangers of the Arsenal attack.

Philippe Senderos then sent a free header wide from a Owusu-Abeyie corner with both teams looking to attack at the end of the half.

Le Tallec headed over - also from a corner - in his side's best opportunity of the first half just before the interval.

Van Persie found himself denied by Alnwick again, this time in the 49th minute when he was found again by Larsson before twisting, turning and unleashing a well-struck drive low at the young goalkeeper.

But the Gunners were not made to wait long, taking the lead with a stunning strike on the hour mark.

Eboue joined the attack from right back, received the ball from Alexandre Song and beat Alnwick with a drive into the top corner from 25 yards.

Van Persie doubled the lead after 67 minutes from the spot after Lupoli had been challenged by Hoyte and Smith in the penalty area.

McCarthy responded by sending on Daryl Murphy - to the delight of the home fans - for Welsh, and Dean Whitehead for Carl Robinson.

Whitehead had an opportunity with nine minutes remaining but his shot from distance was always rising. At the other end, Lupoli had a low drive that crept wide past Alnwick's left post.

With four minutes remaining Van Persie was played behind the defence and he slid the ball under Alnwick to seal victory.

Teams:

Sunderland Alnwick, Nosworthy, Collins (Smith 48), Caldwell, Hoyte, Lawrence, Robinson (Whitehead 75), Woods, Welsh (Murphy 67), Stead, Le Tallec.

Subs Not Used: Davis, Gray.

Booked: Nosworthy.

Arsenal Almunia, Eboue, Cygan, Campbell, Senderos, Larsson (Cregg 89), Muamba, Song Billong, Owusu-Abeyie (Bendtner 90), Van Persie, Lupoli (Stokes 88).

Subs Not Used: Poom, Connolly.

Goals: Eboue 61, Van Persie 67 pen, 87.

Att: 47,366

Ref: M Messias (S Yorkshire).