Wilshere shines as Wenger
changes tact
Confined to the director's box on account of being punished for
the authorities' newly-invoked stance against sarcasm, is Arsene
Wenger feeling the pressure of that five-years-and-counting trophy
drought? While Harry Redknapp had been the North London manager
hailing the Carling Cup as a bauble to cherish in pre-match it was
the Arsenal manager who chose to play an unexpectedly strong hand
in this derby cup-tie. Now, four fronts of potential silverware are
still open and bragging rights lie with his supporters too after a
deadly surge in the first half of extra time.
Since 2005, Wenger has often been accused of not taking
England's cup competitions seriously enough, by contrast to the
success that the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson have enjoyed in this
competition and Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti have enjoyed in
the FA Cup.
The League Cup in particular has been treated almost
dismissively, an exercise in reserve-team football and save for a
losing final in 2007, has often been a source of disappointment to
fans for whom silverware of any kind is now desired.
By comparison to the callow groups of young bloods previously
given their bows in this competition, this was a Gunners team
possessing experience on the grander stage, with the likes of Tomas
Rosicky, Samir Nasri, Emmanuel Eboue and Denilson all starting. And
as against Braga last week, Jack Wilshere's presence was again
vital to success and further confirmation of the growing cult of
Arsenal's brightest young star.
Yet Wenger, despite this win, denied he has altered his stance
on prioritising and said that an injury crisis forced his hand into
fielding players he would prefer to have rested. "I maintain that
the Champions League and the Championship are the big competitions
that really count but I want to win every single game," he said.
"We have a momentum going and it's important not to interrupt it. I
have so many players with injuries but if everyone is fit we can go
for every competition."
Harry Redknapp meanwhile, now knows how it feels to fight on the
Champions League front, and his selection reflected a switch in
priorities that does not favour a competition in which Tottenham
have twice been finalists in recent years. Spurs' weekend
performances after European outings have borne the signs of
hangover so, with that in mind, his was the set of unfamiliar
faces. Stipe Plekosa, Steven Caulker and Sandro were all given
their debuts. The rangy Brazilian signed from Copa Libertadores
winners Internacional was of most interest to the Spurs faithful,
though this was a quiet debut as midfield supremacy was surrendered
to Arsenal's midfield three. Young midfielder Jake Livermore was
used too, though having been booked, he did not last past the
break.
On the subject Sandro, Redknapp was effusive. "I liked him," he
enthused. "He gets around the pitch and he's gonna be a good
player."
The unfamiliarity of such names was not allowed to affect the
contempt rival fans had saved for each other at the Lane. Whatever
the competition, the chance to lord it in North London is never
shirked. Both have enjoyed famous victories over each other in the
various guises of this competition, with Gunners harking back to
the semi-final replay of 1987 and Spurs fans able to recall a 5-1
second-leg win in the semis of just two years ago.
An early chance for the vocal away contingent to bellow their
approval came when Wilshere crafted a 15th minute goal for Henri
Lansbury. Wilshere had begun the move in the centre circle before
linking with both Kieran Gibbs and Rosicky to hit the by-line and
present Lansbury with his first goal for Arsenal, and show the kind
of creative drive usually expected of the rested Cesc Fabregas and
further increase steepling expectations.
Tenacious in the tackle, blessed with strength that belies what
looks a fragile physique, added to his obvious technical abilities,
Wilshere already looks Arsenal first-team class, with international
appearances soon to be far lengthier than his recent England cameo
against Bulgaria. His comfort among the current generation of stars
can perhaps be reflected by the inner-arm tattoo already burnished
on his person, an item de rigeur for the Premier
performer. Wilshere's levels of confidence are already such that he
clearly feels able to implore and cajole team-mates into the
positions he feels they should be in to receive his passes. Stamina
too can be added to his facets, as he retained his radar in the
104th minute to supply Andrey Arshavin's goal, Arsenal's
fourth.
Wenger has a delightful play-thing he is trying not to get too
excited about. After agreeing that Wilshere was fearless, he said
of the 18-year-old: "I am a bit cautious. I do not want to use him
too much too early though he got some stick and he can take it. He
was outstanding in the first half."
Having accepted punishment for that delicate push on fourth
official Martin Atkinson on Saturday, Wenger's banishment from his
bench was offset by regular use of a mobile phone. Though when
technology failed him, he and assistant Pat Rice resorted to
communicating through the type of tic-tac sign-language once used
on British racecourses. However, it would not require a semaphore
expert to conceal Le Boss' displeasure when the failure of
Arsenal's offside trap and yet another calamity from Lukasz
Fabianski handed substitute Robbie Keane an equaliser at the start
of the second half.
The introduction from the bench of big Gunners in Andrey
Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh reflected Arsenal's desire to get the
job done quicker than they eventually did, with Rice, in his
surrogate role, hugely animated on the sidelines. His charges
failed to complete the job in normal time but were clear just five
minutes into the added period as Spurs legs failed them, which
Redknapp put down to a massed outbreak of cramp among his untried
contingent.
Steven Caulker, given the high billing of a new Rio Ferdinand by
Redknapp in pre-match often looked a youth of just 18, his rawness
on show at times though his potential is clear in a powerful build
and a clear sense of anticipation. Sadly, he displayed shades of
latterday Rio as he followed the lead of senior partner Sebastian
Bassong in conceding the penalty - for a foul on Chamakh - that
killed the tie. Nasri, fouled for the first, converted both.
Redknapp defended the youngster, blaming nervous tension for his
later errors. Seemingly forgetting Caulker's name despite
repeatedly mentioning him, he took the bright-side view by saying
the evening had been "good experience for the young
centre-half".
As Arsenal can vouch from recent years, young hearts can often
be broken in this competition. But as Jack Wilshere showed here,
growing reputations can also be highly enhanced. A vanquished
Redknapp could only look in admiration. "Wilshere's a top player,"
he said in his usual vernacular. "A terrific footballer."
MAN OF THE MATCH: Jack Wilshere - Precocious he
may be, but he is already a match-winner on this evidence. A
man-child in the style of the best prodigies and perhaps the player
to scratch the Fabregas itch when Barcelona eventually get their
man.
TOTTENHAM VERDICT: Having escaped a poor first
half to equalise at the start of the second and even go close to
winning it late on through Keane, they threw it away horribly in
extra-time with three pieces of poor defending. Harry Redknapp,
shrinking into his chair with arms folded, was clearly incandescent
with rage but would put on a brave face later.
ARSENAL VERDICT: Their passing was superior
throughout and eventually proved their key weapon in pulling apart
Spurs. Their first goal was the archetype of the passing moves they
have long been hailed for.