The Boys Done Good!

Through bleary eyes it is a pleasure to reflect on Arsenal’s march to the Carling Cup Final. On Tuesday I wrote of great expectations and the Gunners gave a dickens of a good performance to leave the next door neighbours in a bleak house.

The atmosphere at the Grove was electric, with most of the crowd on their feet all night, and the tension was also evident on the pitch as Senderos suffered a nasty looking head cut from the elbow of the combative Ghaly.

The first real opportunity fell to Toure after Robinson failed to hold a fierce drive from Denilson, but the Ivorian snatched at the chance and it was gone. Arsenal dominated the exchanges pretty much throughout with Denilson a sensation in midfield.

The biggest surprise was that it took the home side seventy-seven minutes to take the lead through Adebayor’s clinical finish to a Rosicky pass. The second biggest surprise came when Mido grabbed an equaliser with Spurs only on-target effort all night.

Cue consternation as those of us with last trains to catch did the mental calculations. Just how much is a taxi to the west country? Leaving was not an option. Still we stood and sung, and got our reward at the end of the first extra period. Rocha made a hash of a clearance and teed up the hard-working Aliadiere for a deserved goal.

Midway through the second period Rosicky crowned a superb cameo appearance with a shot against the post that went in off Chimbonda. Cue pandemonium as the Emirates exploded into joyous celebration.

So for the likes of Hoyte, Traore, Denilson, Diaby, and Aliadiere there is now a nervous wait to see what form their participation in the Final against Chelsea will take. It looks a distinct possibility that Ashley Cole will miss that contest. Shame!

For Holic there is now the serious business of sobering up, and thanks for your concern. Somehow we did make that last train. Tottenham must now look for another mode of transport into Europe next season. Their best chance has apparently gone.