Arsenal defeats Spurs in extra time
Arsenal defeated Tottenham Spur in injury time thanks to two Sami Nasri penalities and an Andrey Arshavin goal.
Both sides played weakened teams with the likes of Kyle Naughton, David Bentley, Jake Livermore and Sebastien Bassong in the starting line-up for Tottenham.
Arsene Wenger continued his policy of playing younger players in the Carling Cup. Kieran Gibbs, Carlos Vela and Henri Landsbury all started in the Carling Cup third round game. However, Wenger did start with some first team regulars including Nasri and Jack
Wilkshere.
It was Landsbury who opened the scoring on 15 minutes sliding on to Wilshere’s cross to score past Stipe Pletikosa. Arsenal deserved to go in 1-0 at half time having dominated the first half and were unlucky not to have pressed home their advantage to score
more than once.
Tottenham quickly got back into the match after Robbie Keane scored an 18-yard strike on 49 minutes. The Irish international was introduced by manager Harry Redknapp at half time. Tottenham gained a lot of confidence from the goal and some good defending
by Arsenal kept Spurs at bay. Spurs saw more of the ball, and Wenger brought on first team regulars Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh as both teams searched for a winner. Keane had the last chance of the match when he deflected Bentley’s free kick to the
post.
The first half of extra time ended the contest. In the last minute of the first half, Bassong hauled down Nasri inside the penalty box. Nasri took the penalty himself and sent the keeper the wrong way. Only a few moments later Spurs had given away another
sloppy penalty. This time the inexperienced Stephen Caulker was the guilty player, having grabbed Chamakh’s arm in the penalty box. Nasri sent Pletikosa the wrong way for the second time in the game.
Tottenham did try to rally and went close when Bentley headed against the bar from close range. The midfielder will be disappointed to have missed from no more than 6 yards out. A goal could have set up a frantic final few minutes.
Instead Arshavin put the game beyond doubt when he received a quick free kick and shot past Pletikosa. Wenger will be pleased to progress against his rivals and despite serving a match ban, his team deserved their win.
It will depend on the draw in the fourth round, but if Arsenal are drawn against weaker opposition, more of the younger players may feature next time around.
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