Flamini: I had a point to prove to Arsenal

A Mathieu Flamini goal gives Arsenal a 1-0 lead over local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in their League Cup clash at White Hart Lane.

The Frenchman, making his first appearance of the season, smashed in on 26 minutes after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s fierce shot was parried straight to him by ‘keeper Michel Vorm.

Then Flamini stole the show by lashing a sublime 78th-minute volley past Vorm from 20 yards after Tottenham had equalised through a Calum Chambers own goal.

Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini is still likely to leave next summer despite his north London derby display.

Dier said: “We did well in this competition past year and we said before the game that we wanted to go one step further, so it’s disappointing – and it’s obviously more disappointing being against Arsenal“.

Manchester City, on the other hand, finished their League Cup business early and successfully as they hammered Sunderland 4-1 at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.

Wenger’s counterpart Mauricio Pochettino is also expected to name a strong team for the match, though whether he starts with new star striker Son Heung-min remains to be seen. This put the two teams into a tie which was broken at the match’s 78th minute when Flamini scored a goal again. “I told him at the start of the season that it might be hard maybe to be a starter but he decided to stay and fight”. “It was my first game when I came back to Arsenal and to score two goals today and here was important for me”.

Pressed on his selection decisions after the defeat, Tottenham’s manager sought to defend his under-fire countryman.

“It is never easy when you don’t play every game”.

However, it was Arsene Wenger’s charges who had the final say as Flamini produced another strike. There are always mistakes in football. “We need to be happy in the way that we played, but feel bad that we lost the game”.