Robin van Persie bagged a brace as Arsenal beat Sunderland to advance to the last 16 of the Carling Cup.
Emmanuel Eboue gave the Gunners the lead on the hour mark, slamming home into the bottom corner from 30 yards.
Van Persie made it 2-0 from the spot on 67 minutes after Arturo Lupoli was fouled by Justin Hoyte and Dan Smith.
And the Dutchman capped the win - in front of a crowd of nearly 48,000 - with a cool finish on 86 minutes after Sebastian Larsson played him in.
Van Persie, who had not scored since the opening day of the season, looked bright from the start.
The 22-year-old should have opened the scoring in the 29th minute, latching on to Larsson's through ball but failing to curl his effort around Ben Alnwick.
Philippe Senderos then sent a free header wide from a Quincy Owusu-Abeyie corner before Sunderland's Anthony Le Tallec headed over just before the break.
Van Persie was denied by Alnwick again in the 49th minute after being released by Larsson.
But Eboue gave the Gunners the lead with a stunning pile-driver before Van Persie doubled the lead after Lupoli was bundled over by Hoyte and Smith.
Sunderland substitute Dean Whitehead went close with a long-range effort with nine minutes remaining before Lupoli went close with a low drive at the other end.
And with four minutes remaining Van Persie slid the ball under Alnwick to seal victory.
Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy:
"They got the goal and it zapped our legs. For the last half hour they were better - it shows the benefit of buying the best young talent.
"Emmanuel Eboue rattled a goal in, and he is younger than our Justin Hoyte.
"Andy Welsh never had a kick against him and he has caused problems to everyone he's faced this season."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger:
"We had a good base, defensively we were strong and they could have dealt with the games in the Premiership.
"We have some talented boys out there and they showed it.
"Sunderland worked very hard, tried to put us under pressure with a very direct game. The size of our defenders helped us."
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).