Arsenal kept up their remarkable unbeaten run against the old enemy as the reserves equalised late on to ensure a share of the spoils in the first leg of The Carling Cup Semi-Final.
In a game largely dominated by Spurs, failure to convert chances cost them, as Theo Walcott popped up with a 78th minute equaliser, in a performance we are not used to seeing recently.
Spurs took the early initiative with Jermaine Jenas eventually scoring to highlight the dominance of the visitors on 37 minutes. Having earlier hit the post, Spurs also forced a couple of decent saves from Fabianski during a spell in which a host of chances were wasted. I think it would be fair to say that the break came as something of a relief to Arsenal, but allowed Wenger to ring the changes.
Robin Van Persie, a surprise starter was replaced by an in form Eduardo. It later turned out that a recurrence of an injury to Van Persie had been the real reason for the change, and this injury has set the attacker back for another four weeks. Sagna also came on, and although Spurs seized the early initiative, Arsenal looked a far more formidable outfit after the substitutions.
The equaliser, when it came, was perhaps somewhat fortuitous, with Theo Walcott on the end of a slide rule pass from Eduardo. The ball appeared to spin off a defender and into the chest of the onrushing Walcott, wrong footing the keeper before nestling into the back of the net. Cue the eruptions from the supporters, and the silence of the travelling followers.
I would say that 1-1 is a fair reflection of the game, and with a further ninety minutes to come up in N17, Arsenal still have every chance of making the short trip to Wembley for the final in February.