Samir Nasri scored two penalties
in extra time as Arsenal knocked
arch-rivals Tottenham out of the
Carling Cup with a 4-1 victory at
White Hart Lane.
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Teenager Henri Lansbury - one of
eight changes made by manager
Arsene Wenger, who was serving
a one-match touchline ban -
swept the visitors ahead from
close range after 15 minutes.
Robbie Keane, who came on at
half-time, scored an equaliser
three minutes after the restart
to level for a much-changed
Spurs side, which saw Brazilian
midfielder Sandro make his debut.
However, neither team could find
a winner in normal time, with
Nasri's spot-kick double and
Andrey Arshavin's goal sending
the Gunners through.
There was a minute's applause
before kick-off for Tottenham's
double winning striker and
England international Bobby
Smith, who died on Saturday
aged 77.
When the action started, there
was the expected tense
atmosphere of a derby, which
Wenger watched from the stands,
having accepted a misconduct
charge and £8,000 fine by the
Football Association following his
actions at the end of the
weekend's 1-1 draw at
Sunderland.
Mexico forward Carlos Vela, who
has scored three goals already
this season, shot wide from 25
yards.
On nine minutes, Roman
Pavlyuchenko was bundled over
by Djourou out on the left.
The delivery from former Gunner
David Bentley, though, was poor
and flew over the crossbar.
Arsenal went ahead on 15
minutes. Tomas Rosicky - who had
missed a crucial penalty up at
Sunderland - worked the ball
down the left to Jack Wilshere.
His ball back across the six-yard
box caught the Spurs defence
cold, and England Under-21
international Lansbury, who was
on loan at Watford last season,
stabbed in his first senior goal.
White Hart Lane was left in
stunned silence, apart from the
pocket of ecstatic travelling
supporters behind the other goal.
The home faithful were on their
feet, though, when Bentley
dashed clear, but blasted his 20-
yard effort over before
Pavlyuchenko flashed an angled
drive wide after cutting in from
the left.
Tottenham made a double change
at the start of the second half.
Republic of Ireland striker Keane
came on for Giovani Dos Santos
and youngster Jack Livermore
was replaced by England winger
Aaron Lennon.
There was some action on the
Arsenal bench as assistant Pat
Rice appeared to signal up to the
stands before sending out Gael
Clichy and Emmanuel-Thomas to
warm up.
Moments later, though, and
Redknapp's changes paid off as
Spurs levelled after 49 minutes.
Kyle Naughton's pass caught the
Arsenal defence square, as Keane
raced into the centre of the area
and his low shot squirmed under
the arms of Lukasz Fabianski.
White Hart Lane was immediately
transformed, as the home side
went in search of a quick second.
However, Arsenal weathered the
storm and had a decent spell,
with Eboue and Vela both missing
the target after good build-up.
Laurent Koscielny made a last-
ditch block as Lennon cut into the
right side of the Arsenal box.
With 18 minutes left, the Gunners
sent on Marouane Chamakh, for
Vela, and Arshavin replaced
Rosicky.
Keane came close to snatching a
winner when his header hit the
base of the post, before
Wilshere's stoppage-time free-
kick caused panic in the Spurs
six-yard box.
Arsenal snatched the lead again
just 30 seconds after the restart
when Sebastien Bassong tugged
back Nasri in the box, and the
Frenchman dispatched the
resulting penalty.
The Gunners were awarded
another spot-kick when Chamakh
went down after cutting across
debutant Steven Caulker, who
tugged at his shirt, leaving
referee Lee Probert little option
and Nasri slotted his second
penalty of the night into the
bottom corner.
Tottenham replaced Sandro with
Niko Kranjcar, before Bentley
clipped the woodwork with a far-
post header wide - much to the
delight of the visiting fans.
Arshavin made it 4-1 when after
being tripped by Kyle Naughton,
he collected Wilshere's quickly-
taken free-kick to dart into the
area and slip the ball into the far
corner.
Fabianski denied Keane with a
brilliant reaction save from point-
blank range after Nasri had
cleared off the line.
The second period of extra-time
was an instantly forgettable, but
the jubilant Gunners fans revelled
in every minute.
OTHER SCORES
Final - Birmingham 3-1 Milton
Keynes Dons
- Brentford 1-1 Everton (Shoot-
out)
Final - Burnley 1-0 Bolton
Wanderers
Final - Millwall 1-2 Ipswich Town
Final - Peterborough United 1-3
Swansea City
Final - Portsmouth 1-2 Leicester
City
Final - Stoke City 2-0 Fulham
Final - Sunderland 1-2 West Ham
United
Final - Wolverhampton Wanderers
4-2 Notts County
February 05, 2010, 12:35:11 AM