Crisis averted as Arsenal back to winning ways

Tottenham 1 Arsenal 2: Crisis — what crisis? Arsenal got back to winning ways in the best manner imaginable, with a cup victory on the turf of their deadly rivals Tottenham, to end a run of two successive defeats and lift the air of pessimism that had taken hold in the red part of north London.

This Capital One Cup victory over Spurs was more remarkable for the fact that the scorer of both Arsenal goals was Mathiu Flamini, the holding midfielder who was considered surplus to requirements in the summer. But the former AC Milan midfielder refused to budge, turning down a move to Galtasaray in order to stay in London, and was drafted in for his first game of the season, Both sides made significant changes from the weekend, although the teams Mauricio Pochettino and Arsene Wenger sent out had plenty of top-flight experience.

Wenger has a history of using this competition to blood his youngsters, but with north London bragging rights at stake, took no chances with his side.