Dogged Spurs go marching on

“ARE you watching, Arsenal?” was the joyous cry ringing round White Hart Lane as another chapter in Tottenham’s remarkable Champions League story was written last night.

Spurs showed their north London neighbours and bitter rivals Arsenal the way to the quarter-finals, succeeding where the Gunners failed, albeit playing the sort of game that was associated with the Arsenal of old.

Never has a goalless draw been celebrated so long and loud, as the final whistle bought the realisation that Spurs are edging further into uncharted territory.

While they were majestic in Milan, Spurs had to dig in and defend for their lives last night, and rode their lick. It was not until Gareth Bale was introduced as a substitute for the final 25 minutes that Milan started to look vulnerable.

Holding a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg, courtesy of Peter Crouch’s late strike, this was always likely to be an edgy affair, and so it proved.

Tottenham were under the cosh for long spells but held out, much to Crouch’s delight.

“Sometimes in the Champions League you come up against top quality players and you have to dig in,” said Crouch.

“I think we deserved it over two legs.

“The club’s not been in the Champions League before. (After) going to the San Siro and winning, the lads defended magnificently tonight.’’

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said: “I enjoyed the occasion but I couldn’t say I enjoyed the 90 minutes.

“You’re looking at that clock and you want that 90 minutes to be up because it’s a great achievement for this club to be in the last eight of the Champions League.

“It’s amazing what the players have done. If people can’t enjoy and appreciate this tonight, then they shouldn’t be involved in football.

“It’s a great night for the players, a great night for the fans and for everyone. I’m delighted.’’

Redknapp admitted the thought of facing Barcelona, possible quarter-final opponents after they beat Arsenal last night, was a daunting one.

“I thought last night was one of the finest performances I’ve ever seen,” he said. “They were amazing.

“They made a side like Arsenal, who play in our league every week and pass teams to death, they made them almost look out of their depth.

“They’re the team you don’t want to play but whoever comes it’s great to be in the last eight.”

Just as it was against Inter, the atmosphere at White Hart Lane was electric at kick-off last night but there the similarities ended. Whereas Spurs took the game to Inter from the start, the roles were reversed against Milan’s other side.

Tottenham’s supporters were willing them forward, to get the goal that would give them a 2-0 lead on aggregate, but they spent most of the first-half like King Canute, trying to hold back the tide of red and black.

This was the side we expected to see in Milan three weeks ago, when Tottenham found it all too comfortable to contain the Italian side.

This time Massimiliano Allegri chose to play Pato from the start rather than keeping him on the subs bench for half the game. Pato played in a three-man attack alongside his fellow Brazilian Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and between them they posed plenty of problems for the home side.

But the biggest influence on the opening half was Kevin Prince Boateng, returning to one of his former clubs. Boateng had an unhappy time at Tottenham, but came back to haunt them last season when on loan at Portsmouth, scoring in the FA Cup semi-final won by Pompey.

Again last night the Ghana international was influential, dictating play from midfield and setting up chance after chance.

As the half wore on, Spurs retreated deeper into their own half and the frequency of their last-ditch clearances increased. Ibrahimovic was first to threaten, but Michael Dawson made a smart interception, then the big Swede had a rasping free-kick tipped round the post by Heurelho Gomes. The closest Milan came to scoring came in the 26th minute, when Robinho’s shot looped off Benoit Assou-Ekotto towards goal, but William Gallas cleared it off the line athletically.

But Tottenham also had their chances. Rafael van der Vaart shot wide from a good position in the first minute and then had a volley deflected away for a corner.

But by half-time, with the game still goalless and Milan looking in control, the home supporters were starting to call for the introduction of Bale, and by the time he replaced the excellent Steven Pieanaar, Spurs had ridden the worst of the storm.

The second half was more even, with Lennon getting forward to good effect and crossing intelligently, and Luka Modric always probing in midfield. But clear chances were still few and far between, with Spurs defending solidly and breaking quickly.

Still Milan had chances. Robinho had three shots in succession from close range without beating Gomes, while Pato hit the sidenetting.

Sandro was immensely strong in the middle of midfield, and needed to be at his best against Clarence Seedorf — the visitors’ best player and was in tears afterwards — in sharp contrast to his poor performance in Milan.

As much as Milan knocked on the door, the home defence refused to let them in. Once Bale entered the fray, Spurs looked more likely to score, though they were relieved to see a late shot from Robinho deflected over.

When referee Frank de Bleeckere blew his whistle for the final time, after three minutes of stoppage time, the combination of ecstasy, relief and realisation combined to make White Hart Lane a very good place to be — unless you were an Arsenal fan.

And can Spurs win the Champions League? Defender Michael Dawson thinsk so: “Why not? We are in the hat. AC Milan are a top, top team and over two legs we have shown that we can mix it with the best.”

Subs for Tottenham: Bale for Van der Vaart 66, Jenas for Pienaar 70, Pavlyuchenko for Crouch.

Subs for AC Milan: Antonini for Jankulovski 70, Merkel for Boateng 76, Strasser for Flamini 87.