Danny Welbeck nets first Chelsea goal in EFL Cup victory over Luton

[p]The front three of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joao-pedro/CAmJERl2/"]Joao Pedro[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palmer-cole/h8agbDt7/"]Cole Palmer[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rogers-morgan/lp4jm80n/"]Morgan Rogers[/a] caught the eye in a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/luton-SlybbadF/?mid=6w0mFqW1"]3-2[/a] win at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fulham/69ZiU2Om/"]Fulham[/a] on Monday to open the Xabi Alonso era at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] with victory.[/p][p]But 35-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/welbeck-danny/86PvpO11/"]Welbeck[/a] showed he will be a useful addition to the Chelsea squad by heading in Malo Gusto's cross to break [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/luton/SlybbadF/"]Luton[/a]'s resistance after a goalless first half.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="786a8d0e-d988-4252-960f-85c48544ca11" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="cc8605d0-210c-4cc0-98e9-8b2541107f73" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]"[b]I bring the average age a little bit higher![/b]" Welbeck said on what he brings to a Chelsea squad that has lacked experience in recent seasons.[/p][p]"[b]The experience of playing games, being around loads of different dressing rooms and knowing what is a good dressing room and a bad one. Knowing what it takes to achieve something special[/b]."[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/odofin-hakeem/ncDi3WAM/"]Hakeem Odoffin[/a]'s own goal killed the tie off after another dangerous delivery by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/estevao/pSdnUEdI/"]Estevao[/a] as Chelsea set up a home tie against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/leeds/tUxUbLR2/"]Leeds[/a] in the last 32.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/penders-mike/nyaJupUE/"]Mike Penders[/a] started in goal for Chelsea after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sanchez-robert/Q74F6aqr/"]Robert Sanchez[/a]'s error-strewn display against Fulham.[/p][p]And Alonso may soon have the experience of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-emiliano/ziCcc5jM/"]Emi Martinez[/a] to count on with a deal to bring the Argentina international to London from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a] reportedly close to completion.[/p][p]But Martinez's international teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-enzo/nZnbEVWP/"]Enzo Fernandez[/a] was not involved as he appears set for a move to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a].[/p][embed guid="1df8ee7e-d42c-437c-9697-aa2771b23bca" url="https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/2093078401242312740" social-type="twitter" /][p]"[b]We want to have a complete squad in all aspects. In quality, personality, young and experienced players -- so the young players get help, that they are still players to develop[/b]," said Alonso.[/p][p]"[b]I'm happy with the energy and attitude of the players[/b]."[/p][p]Fulham also booked their place in round three with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/afc-wimbledon-4KREuF43/fulham-69ZiU2Om/?mid=OGVEkQ7E"]3-0[/a] win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/afc-wimbledon/4KREuF43/"]AFC Wimbledon[/a].[/p][p]First-half goals from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-rowe-emile/fsJB9j4d/"]Emile Smith Rowe[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodrigo-muniz/A5ZlWABs/"]Rodrigo Muniz[/a] put Alvaro Arbeloa's side in command before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garcia-gonzalo/pWxyEyDA/"]Gonzalo Garcia[/a] came off the bench to net for the second time in two games since his move from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a].[/p][p]Fulham travel to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-ham/Cxq57r8g/"]West Ham[/a] in round three.[/p]