Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce regards the Carling Cup as their best chance of silverware this term.

There was an audible groan on Tyneside last week when the Magpies' reward for their 2-0 Carling Cup second-round victory over Barnsley was a trip to London to face Arsenal later this month.

However, Allardyce will head for the Emirates Stadium determined to secure a passage to the fourth round by ending his search for a first away victory over the Gunners as a manager.

He said: "We were looking for a bit of luck with the draw, but it has got to be played to an end, and we will see how we go.

"I have never won at Arsenal - this would be the first time. It came down to the 93rd minute one year when Gilberto scored an equaliser.

"Hopefully, I can go one better this time."

Arsene Wenger has traditionally played his youngsters and fringe players in the Carling Cup, although they reached the final last season and a side which included the likes of Justin Hoyte, Armand Traore, Denilson, Theo Walcott, Jeremie Aliadiere and Abou Diaby gave Chelsea the run-around before Didier Drogba's double snatched the trophy from their grasp.

Allardyce said: "He will play his squad players - he always starts with them - and we will rotate our squad accordingly, just the same.

"The Carling Cup tie drops in a difficult week for us because we play on the Sunday, then we are going to have to play them on the Tuesday night and then Saturday morning against Manchester City.

"Two out of those three games are away from home, so that's going to be a difficult week."