Carling Cup Semi 1st Leg: Arsenal 1 Tottenham 1
Theo Walcott showed watching England boss Fabio Capello there may just be hope for the future as his late second-half goal gave Arsenal a 1-1 draw in their Carling Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Tottenham at Emirates Stadium.
Manager Arsene Wenger had again put his faith in youth, with the average age of his side was just 21 and a half.
However, it looked to have been a game too far for the young Gunners as a determined Spurs team - without dropped England keeper Paul Robinson - were good value for their half-time lead through Jermaine Jenas, and looked set to be the first away team to win at the Emirates in 21 matches.
• Ramos: Robinson not finished
Yet following the introduction of in-form Croatian striker Eduardo and regular full-back Bacary Sagna, Arsenal eventually found another gear and were rewarded when Walcott scrambled in his third goal of the season with 11 minutes left to leave the tie delicately poised for the second leg at White Hart Lane in a fortnight's time.
New England boss Capello was an interested spectator in the stands - although quite what he must have made of the two Swiss, a pair of Brazilians, a Dutchman, a Dane and a Pole in Arsenal's starting XI is anybody's guess.
Thankfully tonight Wenger also named a couple of Englishmen in his side - Walcott and Justin Hoyte.
Conversely, there would have been plenty of home-grown interest for the Italian in the Spurs line-up which included midfielder Jenas, defenders Michael Dawson and Ledley King as well as winger Aaron Lennon.
Of course, axed stopper Robinson and striker Jermain Defoe will certainly be hoping for more involvement in Capello's squad after they warmed the bench.
Spurs number two keeper Radek Cerny showed he is not ring rusty in a first appearance under new Spurs head coach Juande Ramos when he produced a flying save at full stretch to keep out a close-range header from Nicklas Bendtner, following a cross by Hoyte after Robin van Persie's superb reverse pass out to the right.
On 24 minutes, Dimitar Berbatov - once a transfer target for Wenger - charged towards the Arsenal box and was sandwiched by Gilberto and captain for the night Philippe Senderos, giving away a free-kick on the right side.
Jamie O'Hara struck his effort well, but the ball curled around the far post and behind.
Tottenham had sold out their allocation, encamped behind the goal, and although the match had been delayed by some 15 minutes as fans struggled through the failing London transport system, there was still a noticeable number of empty seats around the upper tiers of the Emirates, with the official attendance just over 53,000.
After 32 minutes, Spurs should have taken the lead.
Robbie Keane's determined run into the Arsenal box was checked by a fine saving tackle from Senderos.
The loose ball broke to Steed Malbranque, but from only 12 yards out the French midfielder inexplicably dragged his shot wide.
Polish keeper Lukasz Fabianski then had to be alert to deflect Berbatov's 20-yard drive away.
The Spurs fans, though, did not have to wait long for their goal.
Johan Djourou's poor defensive header was picked up by Berbatov.
The Bulgarian chipped a first-time ball through to Keane.
Played onside by a static Senderos, the Irishman raced forwards down the left and squared to Jenas, who made no mistake from the penalty spot, firing past an exposed Fabianski.
The visitors were good value for their lead and Wenger made a couple of changes at the break.
Arsenal replaced Djourou with Sagna, and Van Persie - just back from injury - was given a break for goal-hungry Eduardo.
With Hoyte moved to centre-back, Arsenal looked a more cohesive unit and started the second half brightly enough.
It would be, though, in midfield where they also had to regain control.
Spurs, however, continued to press.
A fumble by Fabianski from a corner went unpunished, before, on 54 minutes, Keane skipped away ahead of Senderos down the right, but dragged his shot wide from just outside the box.
As the hour mark passed, Arsenal were yet to find their usual passing rhythm.
Wenger's young side were too careless in possession, with Spurs in no hurry to give the ball back to their hosts.
However, as the game entered the final 15 minutes, Arsenal suddenly looked to have found another gear, particularly through Sagna on the overlap down the right.
And, out of nothing, the Gunners were level.
Eduardo's weighted pass sent Walcott in between the centre-backs. Lee Young-Pyo came across to the edge of the box, and slid in just as Walcott shaped to shoot.
The ball bounced back up off the striker's chest and rolled past the wrong-footed Cerny - leaving Walcott to revel in his celebrations right in front of the Spurs fans.
Arsenal had their tails up, and the Emirates sensed a winner.
However, it was Defoe, on for Keane, who could easily have put one in at the other end but he blazed over from Lennon's low cross at the far post.
Ramos: Robinson not finished
Juande Ramos dropped Paul Robinson to the bench for the Carling Cup clash at Arsenal but insisted it was not the end of the goalkeeper's career at Tottenham Hotspur.
Robinson has been guilty of high-profile errors this season, the latest on Saturday against Reading, and the head coach finally lost patience ahead of the biggest game of Spurs' season so far.
After the first leg of the semi-final finished 1-1, Ramos said: 'There are 24 to 25 players in the squad and they all have to play at some point.
'He's a good goalkeeper, which he has demonstrated. We all know what a good goalkeeper he is.'
The Spurs head coach could not guarantee recalling Robinson for Saturday's clash against Chelsea, and his replacement, Radek Cerny, did nothing wrong against Arsenal.
He saved in the first half from Nicklas Bendtner and could do nothing about Theo Walcott's leveller to cancel out Jermaine Jenas' opener.
'Ruthless decisions are always dangerous,' admitted Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who himself persisted with his youngsters. He also gave the captaincy to Philippe Senderos ahead of former skipper Gilberto.
Wenger was relived to come away with a draw but he was counting the cost of injuries to four of his players.
Johan Djourou (groin), Senderos (knee) and Robin van Persie (thigh) will have to be assessed and Walcott picked up an ankle knock but it is not thought to be serious.
Along with Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure and Alexandre Song away for the African Nations Cup, Wenger faces selection problems, particularly in central defence.
'We've suddenly lost six players,' said Frenchman Wenger.
When asked who will play at centre-back against Birmingham on Saturday, he joked: 'Me.'
Arsenal will be protecting their unbeaten record at home this season when they face Alex McLeish's side, although Spurs gave them a genuine scare.
Jenas gave Ramos' side the lead before the break and only a fortuitous goal from Walcott ensured parity for the White Hart Lane leg later this month.
The Arsenal youngster's finish was blocked by Young-Pyo Lee but went in off his stomach, denying Spurs a first win over their rivals since 1999.
'I thought we deserved to win the game,' said Spurs skipper Ledley King. 'We knew they would come back at us, they always seem to come back and we are disappointed we didn't get the win.
'It's half the job done at the moment. It will be a tough game (in the second leg) but we're ready for it.'
Wenger added: 'I believe it was a good result considering Tottenham created more chances.
'We were defensively strong in the second half and showed resilience - 2-0 would have killed the game for us.'
Manager Arsene Wenger had again put his faith in youth, with the average age of his side was just 21 and a half.
However, it looked to have been a game too far for the young Gunners as a determined Spurs team - without dropped England keeper Paul Robinson - were good value for their half-time lead through Jermaine Jenas, and looked set to be the first away team to win at the Emirates in 21 matches.
• Ramos: Robinson not finished
Yet following the introduction of in-form Croatian striker Eduardo and regular full-back Bacary Sagna, Arsenal eventually found another gear and were rewarded when Walcott scrambled in his third goal of the season with 11 minutes left to leave the tie delicately poised for the second leg at White Hart Lane in a fortnight's time.
New England boss Capello was an interested spectator in the stands - although quite what he must have made of the two Swiss, a pair of Brazilians, a Dutchman, a Dane and a Pole in Arsenal's starting XI is anybody's guess.
Thankfully tonight Wenger also named a couple of Englishmen in his side - Walcott and Justin Hoyte.
Conversely, there would have been plenty of home-grown interest for the Italian in the Spurs line-up which included midfielder Jenas, defenders Michael Dawson and Ledley King as well as winger Aaron Lennon.
Of course, axed stopper Robinson and striker Jermain Defoe will certainly be hoping for more involvement in Capello's squad after they warmed the bench.
Spurs number two keeper Radek Cerny showed he is not ring rusty in a first appearance under new Spurs head coach Juande Ramos when he produced a flying save at full stretch to keep out a close-range header from Nicklas Bendtner, following a cross by Hoyte after Robin van Persie's superb reverse pass out to the right.
On 24 minutes, Dimitar Berbatov - once a transfer target for Wenger - charged towards the Arsenal box and was sandwiched by Gilberto and captain for the night Philippe Senderos, giving away a free-kick on the right side.
Jamie O'Hara struck his effort well, but the ball curled around the far post and behind.
Tottenham had sold out their allocation, encamped behind the goal, and although the match had been delayed by some 15 minutes as fans struggled through the failing London transport system, there was still a noticeable number of empty seats around the upper tiers of the Emirates, with the official attendance just over 53,000.
After 32 minutes, Spurs should have taken the lead.
Robbie Keane's determined run into the Arsenal box was checked by a fine saving tackle from Senderos.
The loose ball broke to Steed Malbranque, but from only 12 yards out the French midfielder inexplicably dragged his shot wide.
Polish keeper Lukasz Fabianski then had to be alert to deflect Berbatov's 20-yard drive away.
The Spurs fans, though, did not have to wait long for their goal.
Johan Djourou's poor defensive header was picked up by Berbatov.
The Bulgarian chipped a first-time ball through to Keane.
Played onside by a static Senderos, the Irishman raced forwards down the left and squared to Jenas, who made no mistake from the penalty spot, firing past an exposed Fabianski.
The visitors were good value for their lead and Wenger made a couple of changes at the break.
Arsenal replaced Djourou with Sagna, and Van Persie - just back from injury - was given a break for goal-hungry Eduardo.
With Hoyte moved to centre-back, Arsenal looked a more cohesive unit and started the second half brightly enough.
It would be, though, in midfield where they also had to regain control.
Spurs, however, continued to press.
A fumble by Fabianski from a corner went unpunished, before, on 54 minutes, Keane skipped away ahead of Senderos down the right, but dragged his shot wide from just outside the box.
As the hour mark passed, Arsenal were yet to find their usual passing rhythm.
Wenger's young side were too careless in possession, with Spurs in no hurry to give the ball back to their hosts.
However, as the game entered the final 15 minutes, Arsenal suddenly looked to have found another gear, particularly through Sagna on the overlap down the right.
And, out of nothing, the Gunners were level.
Eduardo's weighted pass sent Walcott in between the centre-backs. Lee Young-Pyo came across to the edge of the box, and slid in just as Walcott shaped to shoot.
The ball bounced back up off the striker's chest and rolled past the wrong-footed Cerny - leaving Walcott to revel in his celebrations right in front of the Spurs fans.
Arsenal had their tails up, and the Emirates sensed a winner.
However, it was Defoe, on for Keane, who could easily have put one in at the other end but he blazed over from Lennon's low cross at the far post.
Ramos: Robinson not finished
Juande Ramos dropped Paul Robinson to the bench for the Carling Cup clash at Arsenal but insisted it was not the end of the goalkeeper's career at Tottenham Hotspur.
Robinson has been guilty of high-profile errors this season, the latest on Saturday against Reading, and the head coach finally lost patience ahead of the biggest game of Spurs' season so far.
After the first leg of the semi-final finished 1-1, Ramos said: 'There are 24 to 25 players in the squad and they all have to play at some point.
'He's a good goalkeeper, which he has demonstrated. We all know what a good goalkeeper he is.'
The Spurs head coach could not guarantee recalling Robinson for Saturday's clash against Chelsea, and his replacement, Radek Cerny, did nothing wrong against Arsenal.
He saved in the first half from Nicklas Bendtner and could do nothing about Theo Walcott's leveller to cancel out Jermaine Jenas' opener.
'Ruthless decisions are always dangerous,' admitted Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who himself persisted with his youngsters. He also gave the captaincy to Philippe Senderos ahead of former skipper Gilberto.
Wenger was relived to come away with a draw but he was counting the cost of injuries to four of his players.
Johan Djourou (groin), Senderos (knee) and Robin van Persie (thigh) will have to be assessed and Walcott picked up an ankle knock but it is not thought to be serious.
Along with Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure and Alexandre Song away for the African Nations Cup, Wenger faces selection problems, particularly in central defence.
'We've suddenly lost six players,' said Frenchman Wenger.
When asked who will play at centre-back against Birmingham on Saturday, he joked: 'Me.'
Arsenal will be protecting their unbeaten record at home this season when they face Alex McLeish's side, although Spurs gave them a genuine scare.
Jenas gave Ramos' side the lead before the break and only a fortuitous goal from Walcott ensured parity for the White Hart Lane leg later this month.
The Arsenal youngster's finish was blocked by Young-Pyo Lee but went in off his stomach, denying Spurs a first win over their rivals since 1999.
'I thought we deserved to win the game,' said Spurs skipper Ledley King. 'We knew they would come back at us, they always seem to come back and we are disappointed we didn't get the win.
'It's half the job done at the moment. It will be a tough game (in the second leg) but we're ready for it.'
Wenger added: 'I believe it was a good result considering Tottenham created more chances.
'We were defensively strong in the second half and showed resilience - 2-0 would have killed the game for us.'
posted by dgarden at 10:15 am
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