Arsene Wenger chose to field eight teenagers in a side which looked to Mikael Silvestre and Philipe Senderos to provide some reassuring experience at the Emirates Stadium.
It was visitors West Brom who enjoyed the brighter start until former Arsenal trainee Jerome Thomas was red-carded for pushing Arsenal wonderkid Jack Wilshere.
Outnumbered by red and white shirts, the Baggies did well to hold out until the 68th minute before England under-19 star Sanchez Watt scored after following up a Carlos Vela shot.
The Mexican Vela turned from provider to scorer eight minutes later, shooting home after Mark Randall's chip hit the crossbar.
Troubled Premier League side Portsmouth are also through to the fourth round of the Carling Cup despite going 1-0 behind in the third minute after ex-Leeds player Ian Harte thumped a trademark free kick into the back of the net.
Pompey equalised through Arun Dindane and a Danny Webber header saw them take the lead in the 33rd minute. The game was killed off by Anthony Vanden Borre just after the hour mark, the 3-1 result meaning that the Portsmouth players can have a relaxing 350-mile journey back to the South Coast having recorded their second win of the season.
Blackburn paid a successful Carling Cup visit to the City Ground where Benni McCarthy scored the only goal of the game with a 25-yard first-half free kick which looked more like it was meant to be a cross rather than a shot.
But it wasn't all plain sailing for Sam Allardyce's men; former West Brom star Robert Earnshaw rattled the Blackburn bar and Dexter Blackstock had a 76th minute penalty saved by Jason Brown.
Blackstock was substituted but his replacement Dele Adebola had even less luck - his last minute header was stopped from crossing the Blackburn line by one of his colleagues.
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