LONDON (AFP) – Park Chu-Young fired Arsenal into the League Cup quarter-finals as the South Korea striker scored his first goal for the Gunners in a 2-1 win over Bolton at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Park was making just his second start following his move from Monaco in August and he gave a tantalising glimpse of his potential with a brilliant winner in the second half of this fourth round tie.

Arsene Wenger’s side trailed to a goal from former Arsenal trainee Fabrice Muamba soon after half-time, but Andrei Arshavin equalised before Park’s curling strike completed the comeback.

Park, who has yet to make his Premier League debut, gave an intelligent display that suggested the 26-year-old South Korea captain could have a significant part to play once he gets used to the frenetic pace of English football.

Wenger’s team, widely written off after that 8-2 humiliation at Manchester United, have now won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions.

There was more good news for Wenger as Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen was able to last 85 minutes in his first appearance after two months out with an Achilles injury.

Although Wenger would clearly love to end Arsenal’s six-year trophy drought as soon as possible, he has never hidden his disdain for the League Cup and once again sent out a weakened team in a competition he treats as a opportunity to test out his promising youngsters.

He made 11 changes to the team that beat Stoke 3-1 on Sunday, with 18-year-old defender Nico Yennaris making his debut in a line-up that also included teenagers Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, Ignasi Miquel and Emmanuel Frimpong, as well as 20-year-old Francis Coquelin.

There was an early wobble from the young guns when Oxlade-Chamberlain dallied on the ball and Darren Pratley took advantage, stealing possession before striding forward and firing in a powerful effort that Lukasz Fabianski pushed away for a corner.

Park led the Arsenal response with an incisive run and shot which forced Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan into action for the first time.

Arsenal stepped up the tempo before half-time and Yossi Benayoun curled wide after finding space with some nimble footwork, while Vermaelen’s ferocious free-kick brought a sprawling save from Bogdan.

Park forced Bodgan into another fine stop as the Hungarian kept out a shot that was destined for the corner of his goal.

Arsenal had dominated the first half but it was Bolton who took the lead two minutes after the interval.

Muamba robbed Frimpong deep in the Arsenal half, then prodded a pass to Pratley and ran on to receive the return ball before firing into the roof of the net.

The Gunners equalised within six minutes when Russian winger Arshavin surged into the penalty area as the Bolton defence backed off before firing low into the far corner.

Arsenal had a spring in their step now and Park put them ahead in the 56th minute.

Arshavin darted towards the statuesque Bolton defence before slipping a pass to Park, who was in acres of space on the right and curled a superb finish past Bogdan.

Bolton pushed hard for an equaliser and Chris Eagles almost got it when Fabianski made a complete hash of his attempt to save a routine shot and the ball looped just over.

Gary Cahill’s strong penalty claim after a trip by Frimpong was turned down by referee Anthony Taylor, while Fabianski made a good save to deny Ivan Klasnic, who also blazed over from close-range in the final minutes.