MATHIEU FLAMINI PROVED to be Arsenal’s unlikely derby hero as his double sealed a 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the League Cup third round.
Flamini opened the scoring in the 26th minute, pouncing on Michel Vorm’s save to fire home from close range, as the Gunners edged a largely poor first half.
Harry Kane had the ball in the net early in the second period only to be denied by the offside flag, but Calum Chambers turned Nacer Chadli’s cross into his own net to level the scores.
Kane’s brilliant volley almost put Spurs ahead before Olivier Giroud wasted a great chance of his own, but Flamini’s superb second secured the victory for the visitors.
Joel Campbell made his first competitive start for Arsenal since January 4 and he missed the first clear chance of the game, heading over the crossbar from close range after Giroud had failed to connect properly with Kieran Gibbs’ cross.
Both sides lacked quality in the final third during a scrappy opening 25 minutes but Arsene Wenger’s side silenced the vociferous home support just short of the half-hour mark. Vorm could only parry Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot back out into the six-yard box, and Flamini arrived to drive the rebound into the roof of the net.
Danny Rose dragged a shot into the side-netting but Spurs were being wasteful with the ball, and Campbell had half a chance to double Arsenal’s lead as he just failed to connect with Giroud’s cross.
Kane pulled a left-footed effort narrowly past the far post and then the England striker found the back of the net shortly after the break, but the offside flag was raised following Christian Eriksen’s parried effort.
Tottenham were firmly in the ascendancy by this point and they found the equaliser after 56 minutes, as Chambers stuck out a leg and diverted the ball past the helpless David Ospina following Chadli’s low cross from the left.
Kane thought he had put Spurs ahead with a stunning scissor-kick volley but Gibbs superbly headed clear on the line, before Giroud failed to squeeze the ball past Vorm when played in by Aaron Ramsey’s fine pass.
But, just as the game appeared to be heading for extra time, Flamini struck again. The Frenchman rifled a superbly controlled volley into the bottom corner after finding space on the edge of the box.
https://vine.co/v/eP9zAtxQHBY
White Hart Lane was stunned and, though Spurs piled forward in the closing minutes, Arsenal held on to reach round four.
Peter o’mahoney was by far the best player on the field. Turnover after turnover he made. Tadgh did well but peter was a class apart
@Brian Jones: two superb players who both brilliantly; agree Pete may have shaded it
@Brian Jones: to be pedantic about it he made turnover after turnover after turnover. It’s in the article… he made 3 turnovers.
@Timmy O’Toole: *played
@Brian Jones: I’d say it was a close call. Probably Furlong playing for longer helped his case. I thought they were both amazing out there. Fair play to them all.
@Fergal O Lachtnain: 2 of which gave us 6pts in a game we won by 5. It’s not the amount, but the importance of them.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: well furlong scores a try which gave us 7 points…
I love the Irish fans. Not happy when we win, we then have to claim the best player came from munster instead of Leinster or vice versa.
Anyway sexton was the big difference between this week and last.
@sup: you’re the first one here to mention Munster or Leinster so your projection won’t change the fact that even an RTÉ commentator could’ve told you this particular game was won in the backrow with the amount of breakdowns and turnovers there were.
Pure Wexford Beef.
@Kieran Campbell: he gets his strength from his mothers side, west cork beef!!!
@E Coughlan: chip
@Marcodub: wow it took you all day to get out from under your rock did it?
I knew some gimp would get upset by my joke, no surprise who it is do.
He’s some man for one man! Such a nice humble guy.
@Sam Harms: Best prop in world rugby and seems like a pretty decent human too.
Furlong was great, but I have to agree with most on here and say POM was MOTM. Lots of great performances out there today. Next week will be brilliant
Furlong has been Ireland’s best and most consistent performer for the last 18 months. Always gives 100% and solidifies the scrum every time he is on the field. He also brings another dimension in play
Sad thing it was great performance today by a host of players, a great win and instead of celebrating some people are still going on about Munster/Leinster. Get over yourselves lads. Furlong had a great game and so did POM. You think either of them care who got MOTM? Not all all.
@Eddie Hekenui: Im a connacht supporter, not a leinster or munster supporter. I see it as it is in connacht very well, so i undetstand quality when i see it no matter the province
What!? POM didn’t get it? Jaysus!
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: cause Furlong was better
@Marcodub: is that you, Reggie?
I hope our team win the World Cup. Our country and people deserve it.