Two-goal Flamini hustles Spurs to the exit
WHEN the ball eventually fell out of the night sky, the unlikely figure of midfielder Mathieu Flamini was lurking on the edge of Tottenham’s penalty area.
It was a meteor strike, a once-ina-lifetime moment for Arsenal’s enforcer after his volley scorched its way beyond Michel Vorm 12 minutes from time.
Predictably it sent Arsenal’s 3,000 travelling fans into raptures, demanding acknowledgement from Flamini as he celebrated his second, remarkable goal of this captivating third-round tie.
Flamini was an unlikely hero, making his first appearance this season in an Arsenal shirt as manager Arsene Wenger’s team exerted their authority over Spurs yet again.
Flamini’s opener was welltaken, the Frenchman reacting quickly after Vorm had spilled Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s powerful long-range effort into his path.
The midfielder skilfully lifted the ball over Vorm before celebrating his first goal in a north- London derby in front of the Spurs fans in the Paxton Lane stand.
The goal was important for Arsenal, settling them down after successive setbacks against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League and the rancorous defeat by Chelsea on Saturday.
By the time Flamini struckk ini theth 26th minute Arsenal had just about taken the upper hand, making the most of the space down the left.
Oxlade-Chamberlain started on the left and flourished in his unaccustomed role after the frustration of the life on the substitutes’ bench in recent weeks.
At times, with his intricate skills and first-time touch, it felt like this was going to be his night in an Arsenal shirt. Wenger is demanding more from him after a difficult start to the season. His time could be coming again.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s perform- ance showed maturity and at times he ran this tie as Arsenal moved the ball with confidence and class.
He could have scored when he found room down the left but sent his effort wide of Vorm’s far post when he should have done better.
Tottenham needed someone to match the drive of Oxlade-Chamberlain. At times they looked ordinary.
The talismanic figure of Son Heung-min, who has scored three times since his move to Spurs, was on the bench. It was only a matter of time before manager Mauricio Pochettino turned to him.
Harry Kane, so prolific last season, is snatching at chances now, his thinking muddled after starting the season in a Tottenham shirt and failing to score even once for his club.
He took too long over a chance just before the break, trying to work the angle so that he could get a shot in on David Ospina’s goal. Arsenal cleared for a corner.
When Aaron Ramsey gave the ball away just before half-time, Tottenham’s captain raced down the left but drilled his shot wide of Ospina’s far post.
Those two goals for England, one against San Marino and another against Switzerland earlier this month, are starting to feel like they are from another era.
Every time Tottenham took a touch, Arsenal were on them, sending bodies into midfield to stop the creative threat of Andros Townsend and Christian Eriksen. Mikel Arteta was the first player booked, upending Townsend as Tottenham attempted to force their way back into the match.
They got their break 11 minutes after half-time, equalising when Arsenal defender Calum Chambers scored an own goal for the second successive game.
He deflected Eden Hazard’s strike into his own net on Saturday and this time he could not react fast enough to get out of the way of Nacer Chadli’s near-post strike.
The goal set the old place rocking, with Tottenham suddenly sensing the chance to put Arsenal away.
Wenger knew it too, stony-faced as he contemplated the possibility of a third successive defeat for the first time since 2010. Kieran Gibbs had to clear off the line from Kane’s scissor kick at the far post to pre- vent Arsenal falling behind. Spurs sent for the attacking threat of Dele Alli, turning to the young midfielder to replace Chadli as they sensed the chance to nail Arsenal.
Instead Arsenal nicked it when Federico Fazio launched the ball skywards from a shot by Arsenal substitute Alexis Sanchez.
Flamini was waiting on the edge of the area and he plucked the effort out of the air to lash it beyond Vorm to seal the game.
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Vorm 5.5; Trippier 6, Fazio 5.5, Wimmer 6.5, Rose 7; Dier 6.5, Carroll 6.5; Townsend 5 (Son 67min, 6.5), Eriksen 6, Chadli 7 (Alli 75, 6.5); Kane 6.5.
Subs not used: Lloris, Walker, Vertonghen, Njie, Winks Booked: Alli. ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ospina 6.5; Debuchy 5, Chambers 5.5, Mertesacker 6.5, Gibbs 6.5; Arteta 6.5, Flamini 8; Campbell 4 (Sanchez 67, 6.5), Ramsey 6.5, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7.5 (Walcott 89); Giroud 6.5. Subs not
used: Macey, Ozil, Monreal, Bellerin,
Iwobi. Booked: Arteta, Flamini, Debuchy.
Man of the match: Flamini. Referee: Andre Marriner 6.5.
Attendance: 35,867.