Spurs 1 Arsenal 4 AET
Lansbury 15, Keane 49, Nasri 92 pen, Nasri 94 pen, Arshavin 105
Who will Arsenal play in the next round of the Carling Cup?
I’ve got a funny feeling it will be somebody interesting.
Last night’s game should never have gone to extra time.
A vibrant first half performance was good enough to have swept Spurs away but Arsenal were only 1-0 up at half-time.
Kieran Gibbs was phenomenal last night: lightning quick, super-competitive and very skilful. His injury is terrible news. He limped off in extra time and may have cracked a toe. Hope not. Arsenal really need Gibbs right now. If the scan shows he’s got another metatarsal, he could be out for months.
Arsenal’s collective game, their slick, fast passing and support running, meant that Spurs could not get the ball or do anything. It looked like a night that would vindicate Wenger’s style of play and his training methods.
The early goal was a hammer blow for the home side. Sweet move in 15minutes, fabulous low cross from Wilshere, Henri Lansbury ran in to score from three yards. This game was his first start for Arsenal !
Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon came on at half-time and Keane was just offside when he took Kyle Naughton’s pass and hit an average shot which the diving Fabianski should have saved. No flag and 1-1.
Sky pundit Glenn Hoddle said Robbie Keane dropped back and stopped Jack Wilshere playing for 20 minutes. We could not see that through TV’s keyhole.
In extra time, two penalties by Nasri and the coup de grace from Arshavin, who drilled a left foot shot across third choice keeper Stipe Plestikoska for 4-1 to the Arsenal.
Arshavin had been fouled, the defender switched off, Wilshere slipped the ball forward to the Russian and …bang!
Kosielny was composed and crucial in the first half hour and used the ball very well.
In 70 he made a terrific tackle on Lennon in the box when the score was 1-1.
Glory-hunting David Bentley was just pitiful. But he beat the rusty Djourou too easily
Carlos Vela? Why is he there? I don’t get it. I never have. What does he bring to the table?
In 54, Wilshere was fouled by Bassong and a free-kick was given outside the box. I wrote down : Vela FK was pants. I wrote that before Vela hit the ball over the bar.
Overall, a really entertaining game, even better than I thought it would be. It was compelling. Arsenal won the first half, lost the second half, romped it in extra time.
Before last night, Arsenal’s record at the Lane was not good. They’d only won two of their last 13 games there.
Didn’t preview it because I had no idea what teams Wenger and Redknapp would pick.
I haven’t been writing any previews this season. But one of my readers says I’ve GOT to preview the Chelsea game. It’s always nice to be told what I should be doing. I always react well to that.
Nobody could have predicted Wenger would select such experienced starters and subs.
TOTTENHAM (4-1-4-1): Pletikosa; Naughton, Caulker, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Sandro (Kranjcar, 96); Livermore (Lennon, h-t), Palacios, Dos Santos (Keane, h-t), Bentley; Pavlyuchenko. Subs not used Cudicini (gk) Hutton, Huddlestone, Jenas.
ARSENAL: (4-4-1-1): Fabianksi; Eboué, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs (Clichy, 102); Lansbury, Denilson, Wishere, Rosicky (Chamakh, 73); Nasri; Vela (Arshavin, 73). Subs not used Almunia (gk), Sagna, Eastmond, Emmanuel-Thomas.
Referee : Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
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