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Capital One Cup: Premier League fringe players' opportunity to shine

Mathieu Flamini of Arsenal celebrates as he scores their first goal
Image: Mathieu Flamini struck twice on his first appearance this season

The Capital One Cup is often the perfect opportunity for fringe players to stake a claim for more first-team chances in the Premier League.

Here we pick out five players who seized their chance in round three of the competition - and five players who struggled to make their mark...

FIVE WHO IMPRESSED...

Mathieu Flamini

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Highlights of Arsenal's 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane against rivals Tottenham in the League Cup third round

Mathieu Flamini capped his first appearance of the season in style with a goal in each half to help Arsenal knock north London rivals Tottenham out of the Capital One Cup. The French midfielder smashed in the opener on 26 minutes before converting a fine volley to seal victory 12 minutes from time. "I told him it might be difficult to be a starter this season, but he decided to stay and fight," said boss Arsene Wenger. "Mathieu is a fighter and a winner and I'm happy for him."

Kenedy

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Highlights of the Capital One Cup third round match between Walsall and Chelsea

Brazilian teenager Kenedy set up one and scored another on his full Chelsea debut, to help the Blues to a comfortable win over Walsall - and stake a claim for more first-team action in the Premier League. The 19-year-old won back possession and knocked in a pinpoint cross for Ramires to open the scoring before breaking clear and firing in his first goal for the club in the second half.

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Andreas Pereira

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Highlights of the Capital One Cup third round match between Manchester Utd and Ipswich

Andreas Pereira scored with an exquisite free-kick as Manchester United swept aside Ipswich to reach the fourth round of the Capital One Cup. While Anthony Martial later grabbed the headlines, Pereira's fine set-piece and impressive all-round display suggests United have more than one talented 19-year-old in their squad. 

Dwight Gayle

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Highlights of the Capital One Cup third round match between Crystal Palace and Charlton

Limited to just 67 minutes of Premier League football so far this season, Dwight Gayle delivered a timely reminder to Alan Pardew of his capabilities with a well-taken hat-trick against Charlton to book Crystal Palace a fourth-round tie with Manchester City. Palace boss Pardew opted to start without a recognised striker against Tottenham at the weekend but Gayle will be pushing for a spot in the line-up for the upcoming trip to Watford after converting two penalties and heading home his side's fourth in their 4-1 win.

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Shane Long

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Highlights of the Capital One Cup third round match between MK Dons and Southampton

Shane Long has had just one Premier League start this term but will hope a brace in Southampton's 6-0 thrashing of MK Dons convinces boss Ronald Koeman to give him a shot against Swansea this weekend. The Irishman had a hand in four of the goals on the night, teeing up Sadio Mane for his second on 25 minutes before winning the penalty for Jay Rodriguez to make it four before adding his own strikes to the tally. There was some fortune about Long's first - Kyle McFadzean cleared Juanmi's cross into the striker and the ball rebounded into the net - but his second showed off his clinical finishing from the edge of the box.

FIVE WHO DIDN'T...

Aaron Ramsey

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey looks on during the Barclays Premier League match against Liverpool
Image: Aaron Ramsey missed his chance to impress in the middle of the park

Aaron Ramsey is no fringe player but this was his chance to press his claim for a central role at Arsenal. "He has not been complaining," Thierry Henry told Sky Sports. "But he has been letting us know that he is know that he is not a winger; that he would like to play in the middle; that he would like to play behind the striker. Tonight is his night. Let's see what he can show in that position." Curiously, it was Flamini who seized that chance instead.

Joe Allen

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Highlights of the Capital One Cup third round match between Liverpool and Carlisle

Not many Liverpool's players came out of their penalty shootout triumph over League Two side Carlisle with too much credit but the ordeal might have been a particular disappointment for Joe Allen in his first appearance of the campaign. Bypassed for Carlisle's equaliser, he was substituted just after the hour mark and will have convinced few that his return can spark an upturn in the team's fortunes.

Siem de Jong

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Highlights of the Capital One Cup third round match between Newcastle and Sheffield Wednesday

Newcastle supporters are searching in vain for a silver lining as the gloom descends on St James' Park but Siem de Jong could not provide it on only his second start for the team in over a year. The former Ajax forward arrived in the summer of 2014 with some pedigree and had scored on his previous start against Northampton but Sheffield Wednesday proved a tougher opponent and it seems Magpies fans must look elsewhere for inspiration.

Federico Fazio

Federico Fazio joined Tottenham only last summer
Image: Federico Fazio disappointed for Tottenham against Arsenal

Once regarded as a real talent, injuries have robbed Federico Fazio of what pace he did have and Mauricio Pochettino's decision to play him in the North London derby is likely to have frustrated Tottenham supporters. Slow to react for Mathieu Flamini's opener and subject to groans later in the game as his sloppiness continued, Fazio's future at the club looks particularly bleak after this latest disappointing showing.

Rickie Lambert

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Highlights of the Capital One Cup third round match between Norwich and West Brom

After scoring 28 goals in two Premier League seasons with Southampton, Rickie Lambert's 'dream move' to Liverpool didn't work out. Even so, a regular role at West Brom was supposed to mean a return to form. It's not working out that way. Eight games and almost eight hours into his Baggies career and Lambert is still looking for his first goal. At 33, there must be fears that his best levels are now behind him.

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