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.
Bulls*%#. Should have taken control of the situation. If your not going to control the situation as custodians of the game what are you going?? Be as well rip up the rule book and quit.
@Stephen Drake: I guess you’re one of the people that just doesn’t get it, that Ryan is referring to, Stevo! And it’s okay, albeit a pity, that you don’t get it, he said!
I suppose it makes sense that the amateur sport has an amateur leadership.
It’s still not sorted. When is the replay fixed for? Until it’s played it’s still an Issue.
@John Smith: will never be played
Extraordinary incompetence from an organisation that has so much buy in across our nation! It’s time the GAA answered some hard questioning.
Ah, the same old rhetoric from the top man in there GAA . He didn’t w to undermine the CCCC ,– he didn’t have to,– if the CCCC is the body within the GAA that it was up to the Members to initiate an enquiry straight away,– that evening. He need not try to hide behind a sub committee, — I’m sure there was a discussion in Croke Park that evening,- no point in saying there wasn’t. A shower of gutless watery individuals who could not make a decision , just as in 2010. after Leinster Final. Will ye go and Man up and deal with crisis when it happens .
Day 1 , replay . Sounding like the Tories .
Hounds gaa come down to. Cork ll make sure ya get free deal tramp that promoter hearn up the Irish forever
@Mark Murphy: wtf
@rhino burns: a very sensible comment from Murph there rhino! I hope hounds gaa come down to as well!