Spurs rout Gunners to make final
Jermaine Jenas set Spurs on their way with a goal on three minutes
Tuesday, 22, Jan 2008 10:54
Tottenham Hotspur booked their place in the Carling Cup final and ended a nine-year derby jinx with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Arsenal.
The semi-final win at White Hart Lane marked both Tottenham's first win over their local rivals since November 1999 and the end of the road for Arsene Wenger's young team in the tournament.
After a 1-1 draw at the Emirates in the tie's first leg, the hosts moved in front thanks to an early strike from Jermaine Jenas.
On three minutes the former Newcastle midfielder worked himself a yard of space on the edge of the box before sending a low shot zipping off the surface and into the far corner of Lukasz Fabianski's goal.
With a half-hour gone Jenas turned provider as his wicked free-kick delivery was nodded into his own net by Nicklas Bendtner and the Gunners sank further behind.
The game could have been wrapped up just three minutes later as Dimitar Berbatov put a shot against the post after going clean through on Fabianski.
But the Bulgarian's profligacy just delayed Arsenal's demise as Robbie Keane crashed home the third four minutes into the second half.
Aaron Lennon slotted home a fourth before Emmanuel Adebayor's thunderous effort bought a brief respite for the embarrassed away support.
Tottenham shut the game down as it entered its final quarter with Juande Ramos wisely introducing Tom Huddlestone at the expense of Lennon.
There was a final goal to cap the evening for Spurs however as Steed Malbranque turned in a cross from Jenas a minute from time to rubber-stamp a famous win.