Info

Arsenal fought back from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at North London rivals Tottenham and the advantage in this Carling Cup semi-final.

Arsene Wenger once again fielded his second XI but after initially finding North London rivals Spurs a tougher proposition than the Liverpool side The Gunners dispatched 6-3 in the quarter-final, Arsenal, inspired by Cesc Fabregas, produced a performance every bit as impressive.

Julio Baptista’s second half double turned the complexion of the tie after a first half which had left Spurs dreaming of a final meeting with Chelsea.

Martin Jol’s side made a superb start - wing whippet Aaron Lennon skipped past Armand Traore and Abou Diaby but Justin Hoyte cleared his dangerous cross.

Dimitar Berbatov was next to fire a shot across The Gunners’ bows, the Bulgarian played a give-and-go with Jermain Defoe but after cutting inside his shot struck the outside of the post.

Arsenal were not without their own attacking contribution - Jeremie Aliadiere had slipped in Fabregas but, after rounding Paul Robinson, the angle beat the Spaniard - before Spurs drew first blood in the 12th minute.

The culpable pair of Kolo Toure and Manuel Almunia left Lennon’s cross to one another and Berbatov stole in for the simplest of headers from six yards.

Despite the straightforward finish, Berbatov suffered a groin injury in the act of scoring and was replaced by Robbie Keane - the disruption would ultimately hamper Spurs.

Spurs pressed for more - Defoe drew a save from Almunia and were given another helping hand 20 minutes in. Tom Huddlestone’s free-kick was dummied by Michael Dawson and Baptista bumbled the ball in at his own near post.

The second half began in scrappier fashion but if Spurs had bossed the first period, the second was dominated by the visitors.

Where Spurs attacks had been incisive in the first half, they became tentative - Berbatov’s replacement Keane proved an ineffective foil for Defoe - and Arsenal grasped the initiative.

Dawson cleared off his own line after Fabregas’s free-kick was flicked on, while Fabregas could not generate enough power in a header to beat Robinson after Baptista’s deflected free-kick.

The warnings went unheeded by Spurs and Arsenal found a route back into the semi-final in the 64th minute.

A neat touch from the once subdued Theo Walcott, now released by Emmanuel Eboue’s introduction on the right-hand side, fed Baptista who got the better of Dawson to shoot home.

Walcott wasted a glorious chance to claim the winner five minutes from time but Spurs were the ones left mulling over a missed opportunity ahead of the second leg next week.

Ajax youngster Ryan Babel reportedly visited London to watch Arsenal in the Premiership earlier this month.

Reports in Holland have suggested that the 20-year-old took advantage of the Eredivisie’s short winter break to watch The Gunners in action and meet with officials from the North London club.

The youngster’s agent confirmed that Babel made the early January trip to London, but insisted his visit to Arsenal was as a fan and not to negotiate a move away from the Amsterdam giants.

The former Ajax trainee, who is under contract until the summer of 2008, is talking with his current club about an extended deal, having previously stated his intention to stay with his present employers.

The striker has also interested Premiership side Newcastle United, but it is unlikely that Babel will move away from the Amsterdam ArenA before the end of January.

Great performance from the gunners on Sunday, they came back from being 1 nil down to the leaders of the premiership to beating the Red devils 2-1. Checkout the goal highlights.

Rooney Scores from Evra’s Cross

Van Persie Goal From Rosicky Cross.

Henry Rare header From eboue’s Cross

Today for the first time arsenal showed that they have the balls to go out and grind out a result no matter what the circumstances. Its these results that bring in titles, not 4-0 wins over teams that are at the buttom of the league. Fabregas, Hleb and Rosicky dominate a four man Blackburn midfield after Gilberto was sent off in the 12 min for lashing out at Savage, who made a unjust tackle at the brazillian. Tour then went on to score from a arsenal free kick and arsenal went in one nil winners in the first half. Henry who seems uninterested for most of the match then went on and scored a great goal! after linking up with Fabregas.

This has been one of arsenal best performance against a hard tackling team from up north and i hope that they will continue their good form against the teams in the north IE Bolton. Its hard to pick one single man of the match as the whole team played their ass off, Clichy was really good and his is improving every week, Fabregas was exceptional without Gilberto and the Hleb was also immense on the right. may MOTM is the Team as they were able to over come a nasty blackburn team who’s only intension was to bully arsenal.
Toure’s Goal