Walcott goal denies Spurs chance to end jinx

THEO WALCOTT has long been hailed as the saviour of English football, but last night redemption was plundered closer to home.

The Arsenal striker preserved his club’s proud unbeaten record against Tottenham Hotspur and kept his team’s hopes of a second consecutive Carling Cup final appearance alive just when Tottenham were daring to dream of Wembley.

For a club which prides itself on picture-book football, it was a moment of rank ugliness. Walcott burst onto Eduardo’s through-ball in the 83rd minute, but was closed down from behind by Spurs defender Lee Young-Pyo.