Carlos Vela: 10 Things you need to know about Arsenal's Carling Cup sensation

After marking his first full Arsenal start with a stunning hat trick when the Gunners destroyed Sheffield United 6-0 in the previous round, 19-year-old Mexican striker Carlos Vela followed it up with an exquisite chipped finish as Arsene Wenger's young guns saw off Wigan 3-0.

Here's everything you need to know about El Bombardero…

1) Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido was born on March 1, 1989 in Cancun, Mexico. He comes from good footballing stock: older brother Alejandro plays for top flight Mexican club Cruz Azul.

2) He started out alongside Alejandro at Mexican side Deportivo Guadalajara - more commonly known as Las Chivas (or 'the goats') - although he didn't actually appear for the first team.

3) He first came to prominence by playing a pivotal part in Mexico's 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship win in Peru. Vela scored five goals - including the first in the final, a 3-0 win over Brazil - and came away with the tournament's golden boot. He dedicated the achievement to his father. Here's the highlights of that victory:

4) On his return, Guadalajara offered him a professional contract. Vela insisted his family were re-located from storm-stricken Cancun as a condition of him signing.

5) After some stunning performances for Guadalajara's reserves, Arsenal beat off competition from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Manchester United to sign Vela for £2.5m. Due to work permit complications, he was sent out on loan to La Liga side Celta Viga for the rest of the 2005/06 season.

6) He spent the 2006/07 season on loan at Spanish second division side Salamanca where he made an instant impression by scoring eight goals in 31 appearances. The following year, he proved equally impressive playing in the Primera Division for Osasuna, for whom he made 31 appearances and notched three goals, including this stunner against Real Betis (starts at 22s):

7) One of Mexico's brightest talents, he earned his first senior cap in a September 2007 friendly against Brazil aged just 18-years-old. He scored his first goal a month later against Guatemala, and has since racked up a total of four goals in 10 appearances.

8) After finally being granted a UK work permit in May 2008, Vela was out straight into Arsenal's first team squad. He made his debut for the Gunners on their pre-season tour of Hungary and scored a hat-trick in the 10-2 defeat of Burgenland.

9) He made is competitive Arsenal debut in the Premier League match against Newcastle on August 30 when he replaced Robin van Persie after 63 minutes.

10) His first full start for the Gunners came in the Carling Cup tie against Sheffield United where he scored a hat-trick. And if the skills on display in this compilation are anything to go by, you get the feeling it won't be his last…

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