Tottenham Hotspur 5 - 1 Arsenal

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Tuesday Jan 22 2008 08:00

Tottenham Hotspur finally broke their north London curse against Arsenal as they strolled to a 5-1 victory and booked their place in the Carling Cup Final at Wembley.

Arsenal had gone 21 games unbeaten against their arch-rivals with Tottenham's last win coming back in November 1999.

But Spurs managed to end that dreadful record in style as Jermaine Jenas, an own goal from Nicklas Bendtner, Robbie Keane, Aaron Lennon and Steed Malbranque's strike ensured they would be returning to Wembley for the final on February 24.

Tottenham got off to a dream start when Jenas opened the scoring after just three minutes.Dimitar Berbatov laid the ball into the England midfielder who drilled a shot from the edge of the box which flew past Lukasz Fabianski into the corner of the net.

Things got even better for the home side when they doubled their lead on 27 minutes.

Jenas planted a high free-kick into the box and Bendtner rose to meet the ball with Michael Dawson, but the Arsenal forward somehow managed to direct a header past his own keeper.

Tottenham could have wrapped the game up three minutes later when another high ball from Jenas picked out Berbatov, who broke the offside trap and raced towards goal but saw his shot come back off the post.

Arsenal came close to pulling a goal back on the half-hour mark when Bacary Sagna's close-range header was tipped over the bar by Tottenham keeper Radek Cerny.

Keane added a third for Tottenham three minutes into the second half.

Aaron Lennon played the ball into the Republic of Ireland striker and he struck his right-foot shot through the hands of Fabianski and into the corner of the net.

Arsenal refused to lie down and Bendtner was unlucky not to make up for his earlier mistake when he hit the woodwork just a minute later.Theo Walcott played the ball back to the Denmark striker who saw his shot come back off the bar. The rebound fell to Fabregas but he fired his shot straight at Cerny.

Tottenham finally put the game beyond their north London rivals when Lennon grabbed a fourth on 60 minutes.

Keane released the England winger into the box and he made no mistake in sliding the ball past Fabianski.

Arsenal substitute Emmanuel Adebayor pulled a consolation strike back for Arsene Wenger's side on 70 minutes when he fired a blistering shot which sailed past and Cerny into the roof of the net.

But Malbranque made it a night to remember for Tottenham when he scored the fifth in injury time after tapping home a cross from Jenas.

  • 90
    FULL-TIME: TOTTENHAM 5-1 ARSENAL (aggregate 6-2)
  • 90
    The ground is rocking now as the Spurs fans celebrate what has been a superb performance against their bitter north London rivals
  • 90
    TOTTENHAM 5-1 ARSENAL: MALBRANQUE rubs salt into the wounds as he has the simple task of side-footing home after Jenas' cut-back put the chance on a plate
  • 90
    Three minutes of stoppage time will be added
  • 90
    Defoe fails to put the icing on the cake as he pulls a simple effort wide of the mark from 15 yards after good set-up play from Huddlestone
  • 89
    Spurs have fully deserved their victory if perhaps not the rather one-sided scoreline after a performance full of passion and commitment in front of their home fans
  • 88
    Arsenal finally look like they've given up the fight as the final few minutes tick away with neither side in any real rush
  • 86
    White Hart Lane is in full voice now as the home fans indulge in wave after wave of song in anticipation of a place in the Carling Cup final for the first time since 1999
  • 85
    Eduardo attempts an ambitious header on the turn from Fabregas' long ball but that's easy for Cerny who plucks the effort out of the air
  • 83
    Time is ticking on Arsenal's hopes of returning to the Carling Cup final for the second successive year - neither side is giving an inch though in this thrilling tie
  • 82
    Adebayor is lucky to escape a second caution and a sending off for pushing his hand into the face of Young-Pyo Lee, who falls down theatrically to the turf
  • 80
    Chimbonda's low cross is almost turned in at the near post by Defoe but Arsenal just about manage to clear their lines
  • 79
    Tottenham are happy to soak up the pressure then clear their lines as we move towards the final ten minutes of their entertaining semi-final
  • 77
    Arsenal are totally dominating possession as Tottenham pull all ten out-field players back behind the ball
  • 75
    Tom Huddlestone comes on for Lennon as Spurs make a third and final change
  • 74
    Adebayor goes into the book for a late challenge on Malbranque in the centre circle
  • 74
    Could the miracle be on and Arsenal pull themselves back into this tie? - the players on the pitch certainly think so as they press forward again
  • 72
    Jenas earns a booking for a cynical clip of the ankles on Eduardo
  • 70
    TOTTENHAM 4-1 ARSENAL: There's no doubt about this one as ADEBAYOR earns himself a yard of space and lashes a superb right-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner - that was a scintillating goal
  • 70
    Adebayor is found by Bendtner in space inside the penalty area but the flag goes up against the substitute to the delight of the home fans
  • 69
    Malbranque is given time and space to try his luck from 20 yards but his shot is straight at Fabianski who holds
  • 67
    Spurs haven't taken their foot off the gas at all as they look for a humiliating fifth against their local rivals
  • 65
    Emmanuel Adebayor and Eduardo come on in place of Walcott and Traore for Arsenal
  • 64
    Berbatov and Keane are replaced by Jermain Defoe and Kevin-Prince Boateng - the two strikers are cheered every inch of their way off the pitch
  • 62
    Some of the travelling Arsenal fans are spilling out of the ground now as they know their Carling Cup hopes are over for another year
  • 60
    TOTTENHAM 4-0 ARSENAL: Spurs are on their way to Wembley as Keane feeds LENNON who drills a low shot between the keeper's legs and into the back of the net - that's 5-1 on aggregate and surely game over now
  • 59
    Diaby rides a couple of challenges but Dawson dives in bravely to block his 20-yard shot - he has been massive for Spurs so far tonight and must surely be a candidate for Fabio Capello's first England squad
  • 57
    Fabregas passes the ball straight out of play and the little maestro hasn't looked anywhere near his best since arriving as a first-half substitute
  • 55
    Cheers are going up as Spurs spray the ball around confidently but Arsenal are not out of this tie yet despite the 4-1 aggregate scoreline
  • 53
    This is entertainment of the highest order as Arsenal go for broke and Spurs look to launch swift counter-attacks
  • 52
    Keane now tests Fabianski after going for goal early following a swift break - Arsenal are pushing forward and leaving massive gaps at the back now!
  • 50
    Bendtner rattles the crossbar with an overhead kick as play immediately switches to the other end and Arsenal come within a whisker of pulling one back
  • 48
    TOTTENHAM 3-0 ARSENAL: KEANE brings White Hart Lane to its feet as Berbatov picks out his run with a sublime pass with the outside of his foot and the Ireland striker rifles a bouncing shot past Fabianski who should have done better
  • 48
    Diaby picks out Fabregas with a sublime ball between two Spurs defenders but again Dawson does just enough to snuff out the danger
  • 47
    Dawson stumbles but cuts out a Hleb pass looking to play Bendtner in on goal - that was a vital touch by the big defender
  • 46
    Arsenal get the second half underway trailing 3-1 on aggregate
  • 45
    HALF-TIME: TOTTENHAM 2-0 ARSENAL
  • 45
    Arsene Wenger looks agitated on the Arsenal bench as he contemplates a difficult team-talk with his side needing to score at least two goals
  • 44
    Two minutes of stoppage time will be added to the first half
  • 43
    Traore gives the ball away cheaply twice and Spurs are finishing the half in the ascendancy with Berbatov in particular looking a threat
  • 42
    It's end-to-end stuff which Arsenal enjoying more possession but Spurs looking dangerous on the break
  • 40
    Jenas again floats in a dangerous free-kick but Dawson can only divert it well over the bar under pressure from Gallas
  • 39
    Lennon now reaches the byline but his cut-back is pounced on by Fabianski with Keane again lurking in the danger zone
  • 37
    Diaby cuts in from the left onto his right foot but drills a rising shot from the corner of the box over the top of Cerny's goal
  • 35
    Berbatov steals the ball off the hesitant Gallas on the byline but his cross is cleared with Keane lurking in the six-yard box
  • 33
    Abou Diaby goes down in the box screaming for a penalty after a Pascal Chimbonda challenge but referee Howard Webb is on the spot and waves play on
  • 32
    Sagna flicks a near-post corner goalwards and Cerny does well to tip the effort over the bar for a second flag-kick
  • 30
    Berbatov looks on in horror as he beats the offside trap but his 18-yard shot clatters away off the outside of the post with Fabianski beaten - at 3-0 on the night that really would have been goodnight Arsenal
  • 29
    Arsenal look a little shell-shocked as they now trail 3-1 on aggregate and need a minor miracle to win this
  • 28
    White Hart Lane really is in full voice now as the home fans begin to anticipate a trip to Wembley for a domestic cup final against either Chelsea or Everton
  • 27
    TOTTENHAM 2-0 ARSENAL: Jenas flights in a free-kick and BENDTNER'S touch under pressure from Dawson diverts the ball past Fabianski and into the back of his own net
  • 25
    This remains an open and entertaining game which really could swing either way
  • 24
    Berbatov now almost plays in Keane with a lofted ball in behind Sagna but the full-back just about gets enough on the ball to nudge it back to his keeper
  • 22
    Fabregas almost picks out the run of Bendtner with a 35-yard pass in behind the Spurs defence but Cerny is alive to the danger and gathers the ball
  • 20
    Steed Malbranque is rightly booked for a late challenge on Sagna just inside the Tottenham half
  • 19
    Cesc Fabregas does now come on for Denilson who is carrying a hamstring problem
  • 18
    Hleb is perhaps lucky to escape a yellow card for bringing down Aaron Lennon who was breaking at pace
  • 17
    Walcott uses his pace to surge beyond Michael Dawson but his lofted shot is clawed away well by Cerny for a corner - that was a half chance made totally by the little striker's searing pace
  • 16
    Keane gets in behind William Gallas with a quality run but his cut-back from the byline with the keeper beaten is cleared by Traore - that could so easily have been 2-0 to Spurs
  • 14
    Berbatov makes a fool of Bacary Sagna with some superb trickery down the left flank but Arsenal recover to snuff out the danger as this game continues to entertain
  • 12
    Bendtner drills a rising shot from just inside the penalty area over the top as Arsenal continue to boss the game in terms of possession - but not scoreline
  • 10
    Theo Walcott is marginally offside as he looks to pick up a one-two with Nicklas Bendtner which would have put him clean through on goal
  • 9
    Denilson appears to be moving more freely in the heart of the Arsenal midfield and the young Brazilian may just be able to continue here
  • 8
    Robbie Keane looks fired up for this one after holding off Armand Traore to win a corner for his side
  • 6
    Denilson goes down holding his hamstring in the middle third of the pitch and his night could well be over already - Cesc Fabregas is warming up on the touchline
  • 4
    The Spurs fans are in full voice now as their team have scored with their first real foray into opposition territory - what a start to the match!
  • 3
    TOTTENHAM 1-0 ARSENAL: Totally against the run of play JERMAINE JENAS is allowed to run at goal and directs a low shot from the edge of the box across Lukasz Fabianski with the ball finding the net off the inside of the far post
  • 3
    Alex Hleb tees up Gilberto Silva but the Brazilian lashes a 25-yard shot comfortably over the top of Radek Cerny's goal
  • 2
    Arsenal are dominating possession in the opening moments as Spurs merely chase shadows
  • 1
    Spurs kick-off the match in front of a full house at a vocal White Hart Lane
  • 0
    Spurs are the bookies' pre-match favourites in light of Arsenal's weakened line-up, but this promises to be a nip and tuck last four encounter
  • 0
    Juande Ramos has named his now customary strong side with Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane up front, while counterpart Arsene Wenger has again opted for youth but with a more experienced flavour to the bench
  • 0
    However, Spurs need to end a nine-year wait for a victory over their north London rivals if they are to reach the Wembley showpiece
  • 0
    The tie is perfectly poised after a 1-1 first leg stalemate at the Emirates Stadium two weeks ago
  • 0
    Tottenham and Arsenal face off for a place in the final of the Carling Cup at White Hart Lane tonight

Statistics

Tottenham Hotspur
Shots on target 6
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 10
Offsides 5
Corners 3

Arsenal
Shots on target 8
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 10
Offsides 5
Corners 8

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