Carling Cup Semi-Final 2ng Leg - Arsenal 3 Tottenham 1
Arsenal's youngsters proved age is no barrier as they dug deep to see off north London rivals Tottenham 3-1 - 5-3 on aggregate after extra-time - at the Emirates Stadium and book a place in next month's final against Chelsea.
Only three of the Gunners' starting XI were over 25, proving the future is indeed bright for Wenger's squad.
However, this was no easy ride against a determined Spurs side - but one which ultimately did not have the technical ability or resilience to make the most of their chances, having blown a 2-0 lead in last week's first leg.
Emmanuel Adebayor's clinical finish after 77 minutes looked to have put the hosts through - only for substitute Mido to breathe life back into the tie with a late header and force extra-time.
However, Jeremie Aliadiere then punished a terrible mistake by Ricardo Rocha at the end of the first period and an own goal by Pascal Chimbonda secured the Gunners safe passage to Cardiff.
With some 5,000 Spurs fans making the short trip across north London to Arsenal's impressive new home, the atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium was electric.
It was the visitors who had created the first chance in the 10th minute.
A long ball from Michael Dawson caught the Gunners defence cold appealing for offside.
Robbie Keane made the most of their hesitation, scampering clear down the left and into the area.
Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, however, was out quickly to close the Republic of Ireland striker down and make an important block before hacking the ball into touch.
At the other end, Denilson - the Brazil Under-19 captain - played a neat one-two with Kolo Toure on the edge of the penalty area.
His low strike was fumbled by Paul Robinson - and Toure bundled the follow-up just wide of the England keeper's right-hand post.
Seven minutes before half-time, the ball was worked out to the Spurs left and Hossam Ghaly.
The Egyptian whipped over a decent cross - which Steed Malbranque met with a diving header, but his acrobatic effort flew wide of the far post.
In stoppage-time, Adebayor sent a snap shot just over the bar from the edge of the area following more positive build-up by the hosts.
As Spurs were unable to field youngster Charlie Lee as a replacement substitute for the ill Aaron Lennon, who was named on the original team-sheet, the visitors had to make do with only four on the bench following the restart.
At the start of the second half, Theo Walcott cut in on the angle from the right and his 18-yard chip flew just over.
Tempers then threatened to boil over when Ghaly went down under the challenge of Armand Traore in the Arsenal box.
Appeals for a penalty were waved away, with the Spurs man then tussling with first Philippe Senderos - who was sporting a bandage to a head wound - and then squaring up to Abou Diaby.
A brief melee ensued before calm was restored, with both Ghaly and Diaby cautioned.
As the hour mark passed, Spurs were enjoying their best spell - but still looked vulnerable on the counter-attack.
The goal eventually came on 78 minutes.
Denilson fed substitute Tomas Rosicky - and he unleashed a stinging drive from just outside the box, which Robinson parried away.
Spurs, however, failed to clear the danger. The loose ball was moved back into the Czech Republic midfielder, who slipped Adebayor away on the overlap down the left.
The Togo striker drew the keeper before stroking his shot back into the far corner.
Adebayor immediately dashed towards the Arsenal technical area for his now customary jig with rested captain Thierry Henry, the Gunners seemingly en route to the final against Chelsea.
Those celebrations, though, proved somewhat premature.
With just five minutes remaining, a free-kick from the left by Jermaine Jenas found its way through to substitute Mido, who got up above Toure to head in from six yards - much to the delight of the travelling contingent behind the goal.
The Egyptian then almost won it in stoppage-time when he beat two men to curl the ball just wide of Almunia's right-hand post.
There was still more action to come before the tie went into extra-time as Robinson saved well from Denilson and then Toure.
The first period produced little goalmouth action until the final minute, when Rocha made a complete hash of his attempted clearance with a diving header in the six-yard box.
The ball broke to Aliadiere - who made no mistake to turn the tie in Arsenal's favour once more.
Their trip to Cardiff was sealed four minutes from time when Rosicky's close-range shot came off the inside of the post - and full-back Pascal Chimbonda could only help it over the line.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is preparing to field his youngsters in the Carling Cup final after they helped defeat Tottenham in extra-time at the Emirates Stadium.
The Frenchman is not planning to recall senior players to the starting XI who have not featured in the competition so far, unless his squad is hit by injury.
It means players such as Thierry Henry could be on the sidelines or the bench for the Cardiff showdown against Chelsea in just over three weeks.
'I will try to find the right mixture of young and experienced players again,' said Wenger after his side had beaten Spurs 5-3 on aggregate.
'There was not one boring game with this team, from West Brom to tonight.
'They play with mental strength and resilience, I'm proud of them and they deserve to be in the final.'
Two extra-time goals saw Arsenal home after Mido had come off the bench to force another 30 minutes.
Emmanuel Adebayor had put Arsenal ahead with 13 minutes left before the Egypt striker headed in.
The Spurs forward then curled just wide but that was the last glimpse of victory the visitors had, with Jeremie Aliadiere taking advantage of a Ricardo Rocha mistake to fire the Gunners back ahead.
Tomas Rosicky helped seal the win when his shot cannoned off the post and went in off Pascal Chimbonda.
Wenger fielded youngsters Denilson, Theo Walcott and Armand Traore and revealed it took five years of planning for his youngsters to be ready for action.
'It's fantastic to see that at such a young age people can cope with the pressure, they showed great heart,' added Wenger.
'They say life is too easy for young boys but they showed they are highly motivated, quality players who want to win and are ready to fight.
'It's a sensational feeling to work with them and go through with them. You know they wouldn't give up as they have heart.'
Spurs were without Aaron Lennon reportedly through illness and Wenger admitted: 'He would have been a threat but (Hossam) Ghaly was a different type.'
However, despite the period after Mido levelled the tie, Arsenal looked in control.
'They bombarded us and played long balls after they scored and we were a bit wobbly,' admitted Wenger.
'But it was all us in extra-time and we didn't feel under threat.'
Martin Jol revealed Lennon was ill after dinner on the day of the match, stirring memories of when some of the Spurs side were struck by a mystery illness on the final day of last season when Arsenal pipped them to fourth place in the Premiership.
The Dutchman said: 'Aaron was in the starting line-up and he felt sick after dinner.
'He came back later and felt fine but just before kick-off he felt sick again.
'Just before we started he said he could be on the bench.'
He added: 'It can happen - the only thing with Lennon is he is on fire and could have given us a spark.'
Mido had been linked with a deadline day move but Jol said: 'There was an opportunity for Mido to leave but I want him to stay so that is the end of it.'
Only three of the Gunners' starting XI were over 25, proving the future is indeed bright for Wenger's squad.
However, this was no easy ride against a determined Spurs side - but one which ultimately did not have the technical ability or resilience to make the most of their chances, having blown a 2-0 lead in last week's first leg.
Emmanuel Adebayor's clinical finish after 77 minutes looked to have put the hosts through - only for substitute Mido to breathe life back into the tie with a late header and force extra-time.
However, Jeremie Aliadiere then punished a terrible mistake by Ricardo Rocha at the end of the first period and an own goal by Pascal Chimbonda secured the Gunners safe passage to Cardiff.
With some 5,000 Spurs fans making the short trip across north London to Arsenal's impressive new home, the atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium was electric.
It was the visitors who had created the first chance in the 10th minute.
A long ball from Michael Dawson caught the Gunners defence cold appealing for offside.
Robbie Keane made the most of their hesitation, scampering clear down the left and into the area.
Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, however, was out quickly to close the Republic of Ireland striker down and make an important block before hacking the ball into touch.
At the other end, Denilson - the Brazil Under-19 captain - played a neat one-two with Kolo Toure on the edge of the penalty area.
His low strike was fumbled by Paul Robinson - and Toure bundled the follow-up just wide of the England keeper's right-hand post.
Seven minutes before half-time, the ball was worked out to the Spurs left and Hossam Ghaly.
The Egyptian whipped over a decent cross - which Steed Malbranque met with a diving header, but his acrobatic effort flew wide of the far post.
In stoppage-time, Adebayor sent a snap shot just over the bar from the edge of the area following more positive build-up by the hosts.
As Spurs were unable to field youngster Charlie Lee as a replacement substitute for the ill Aaron Lennon, who was named on the original team-sheet, the visitors had to make do with only four on the bench following the restart.
At the start of the second half, Theo Walcott cut in on the angle from the right and his 18-yard chip flew just over.
Tempers then threatened to boil over when Ghaly went down under the challenge of Armand Traore in the Arsenal box.
Appeals for a penalty were waved away, with the Spurs man then tussling with first Philippe Senderos - who was sporting a bandage to a head wound - and then squaring up to Abou Diaby.
A brief melee ensued before calm was restored, with both Ghaly and Diaby cautioned.
As the hour mark passed, Spurs were enjoying their best spell - but still looked vulnerable on the counter-attack.
The goal eventually came on 78 minutes.
Denilson fed substitute Tomas Rosicky - and he unleashed a stinging drive from just outside the box, which Robinson parried away.
Spurs, however, failed to clear the danger. The loose ball was moved back into the Czech Republic midfielder, who slipped Adebayor away on the overlap down the left.
The Togo striker drew the keeper before stroking his shot back into the far corner.
Adebayor immediately dashed towards the Arsenal technical area for his now customary jig with rested captain Thierry Henry, the Gunners seemingly en route to the final against Chelsea.
Those celebrations, though, proved somewhat premature.
With just five minutes remaining, a free-kick from the left by Jermaine Jenas found its way through to substitute Mido, who got up above Toure to head in from six yards - much to the delight of the travelling contingent behind the goal.
The Egyptian then almost won it in stoppage-time when he beat two men to curl the ball just wide of Almunia's right-hand post.
There was still more action to come before the tie went into extra-time as Robinson saved well from Denilson and then Toure.
The first period produced little goalmouth action until the final minute, when Rocha made a complete hash of his attempted clearance with a diving header in the six-yard box.
The ball broke to Aliadiere - who made no mistake to turn the tie in Arsenal's favour once more.
Their trip to Cardiff was sealed four minutes from time when Rosicky's close-range shot came off the inside of the post - and full-back Pascal Chimbonda could only help it over the line.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is preparing to field his youngsters in the Carling Cup final after they helped defeat Tottenham in extra-time at the Emirates Stadium.
The Frenchman is not planning to recall senior players to the starting XI who have not featured in the competition so far, unless his squad is hit by injury.
It means players such as Thierry Henry could be on the sidelines or the bench for the Cardiff showdown against Chelsea in just over three weeks.
'I will try to find the right mixture of young and experienced players again,' said Wenger after his side had beaten Spurs 5-3 on aggregate.
'There was not one boring game with this team, from West Brom to tonight.
'They play with mental strength and resilience, I'm proud of them and they deserve to be in the final.'
Two extra-time goals saw Arsenal home after Mido had come off the bench to force another 30 minutes.
Emmanuel Adebayor had put Arsenal ahead with 13 minutes left before the Egypt striker headed in.
The Spurs forward then curled just wide but that was the last glimpse of victory the visitors had, with Jeremie Aliadiere taking advantage of a Ricardo Rocha mistake to fire the Gunners back ahead.
Tomas Rosicky helped seal the win when his shot cannoned off the post and went in off Pascal Chimbonda.
Wenger fielded youngsters Denilson, Theo Walcott and Armand Traore and revealed it took five years of planning for his youngsters to be ready for action.
'It's fantastic to see that at such a young age people can cope with the pressure, they showed great heart,' added Wenger.
'They say life is too easy for young boys but they showed they are highly motivated, quality players who want to win and are ready to fight.
'It's a sensational feeling to work with them and go through with them. You know they wouldn't give up as they have heart.'
Spurs were without Aaron Lennon reportedly through illness and Wenger admitted: 'He would have been a threat but (Hossam) Ghaly was a different type.'
However, despite the period after Mido levelled the tie, Arsenal looked in control.
'They bombarded us and played long balls after they scored and we were a bit wobbly,' admitted Wenger.
'But it was all us in extra-time and we didn't feel under threat.'
Martin Jol revealed Lennon was ill after dinner on the day of the match, stirring memories of when some of the Spurs side were struck by a mystery illness on the final day of last season when Arsenal pipped them to fourth place in the Premiership.
The Dutchman said: 'Aaron was in the starting line-up and he felt sick after dinner.
'He came back later and felt fine but just before kick-off he felt sick again.
'Just before we started he said he could be on the bench.'
He added: 'It can happen - the only thing with Lennon is he is on fire and could have given us a spark.'
Mido had been linked with a deadline day move but Jol said: 'There was an opportunity for Mido to leave but I want him to stay so that is the end of it.'
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