Wenger hails fighting Flamini's perseverance

Arsene Wenger saluted Mathieu Flamini's decision to fight for his place after the French midfielder's brilliant brace sealed Arsenal's 2-1 League Cup triumph at bitter rival Tottenham on Wednesday.

Flamini was Arsenal's unlikely hero at White Hart Lane as he scored his first goals since March in his first appearance of the season to earn his side a fourth-round tie at second tier Sheffield.

The 31-year-old, who came close to leaving Arsenal in the most recent transfer window, punished Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm's error to open the scoring from close range in the first half of the fiercely contested third-round tie.