tottenham

Goals from Jan Vertonghen, Andros Townsend and Gylfi Sigurdsson gave Tottenham victory over Carlisle to earn them a trip to Norwich in the last 16 of the Capital One Cup.

The visitors took the lead shortly before the break when Vertonghen headed home Sigurdsson's free-kick.
Townsend put Spurs in control with a 53rd-minute second, running from the halfway line before finishing.

League Cup fourth-round draw:

• Sunderland v Middlesbrough
• Swindon v Aston Villa
• Wigan v Bradford
• Leeds v Southampton
• Norwich v Tottenham
• Liverpool v Swansea
• Chelsea v Manchester United
• Reading v Arsenal

• Full draw story

Sigurdsson wrapped up the scoring when he nodded in Kyle Walker's cross.

Tottenham made eight changes from the side that beat QPR at the weekend, with defender Michael Dawson and midfielder Tom Huddlestone both coming into the side.
Former Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini started in goal, with new £8m signing, France international Hugo Lloris, being left out of the squad.
Carlisle, meanwhile, made just one change from their League One win over Coventry on Saturday, with cup-tied Joe Garner replaced by on-loan Huddersfield forward Kallum Higginbotham.
The hosts, who went into the game looking to extend their unbeaten run to six games, started well with ex-Everton striker Danny Cadamarteri, 32, causing the Spurs defence problems on a couple of occasions.
Tottenham were looking the more dangerous going forward, however, and it was they who had the first effort on target as Sigurdsson cut the ball back to Iago Falque, but his shot was saved by Mark Gillespie.
Falque again tested Gillespie just before the half hour mark when his drive was parried by the Carlisle keeper, before Clint Dempsey's follow-up was cleared off the line.

Spurs target number five

Tottenham have won the League Cup four times previously, with their last success in 2008 when they beat Chelsea in the final.

But the deadlock was broken in the 37th minute when Tottenham won a free-kick and Sigurdsson sent the ball into the area where Belgium international Vertonghen was on hand to head home.

Carlisle came close to an equaliser two minutes later as the lively Cadamarteri fired a shot towards goal, but Steven Caulker managed to get in the way and head the ball out of danger.
It was perhaps an important intervention as Tottenham added a second goal eight minutes into the second half to effectively end the game as a contest.
Townsend picked up the ball on the halfway line, raced towards goal before getting the better of two defenders and then firing a low shot into the back of the net.
Carlisle showed plenty of endeavour in the closing stages as they tried to find a goal that would set up an exciting finish.
It was not to be, however, as Sigurdsson opened his Tottenham account with an 89th-minute third, heading Walker's cross beyond Gillespie.
Tottenham assistant boss Steffen Freund: "I know eight Premier League sides are already out, and there are only two games and then we are in the semi-final.
"I can remember 1999 when I won the League Cup - it is special to go to Wembley and I think the players will start to think about that now.
"We brought a few young players in and we believe in them all. Adam Smith was fantastic at right-back and Ryan Mason has been scoring in the development squad, so we knew he can play. Then in the centre of midfield Tom Huddlestone is back after his injury, Michael Dawson is back.
"There are young players coming through which is nice to see, and it is especially nice to know that we have someone (Townsend) behind Gareth Bale who can jump in and create something."
resource : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19645193

arsenal vs man city

Laurent Koscielny scored a late equaliser as Arsenal came from behind to snatch a well-earned point from a breathless encounter with Manchester City.

The Frenchman found the net nine minutes from time, thumping in from close range after the champions had failed to clear the danger from a corner.
City had taken a scarcely deserved lead when Joleon Lescott headed in David Silva's corner five minutes before the break.
But Arsenal kept going to salvage a point from a match that maintains both clubs' unbeaten starts to the season and leaves them locked together on eight points from five matches.
City manager Roberto Mancini cut a fraught and frustrated figure throughout the game, as City once again failed to recreate the attacking fluency that became their trademark in the early months of last season.

Play media

Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version

Defensive 'problem' concerns Mancini

He could only bring himself to describe his side's Premier League campaign as "satisfactory" in his programme notes before the game. Against Arsenal there was little evidence to persuade him to change his verdict.
Life has not been easy for his opposite number Arsene Wenger these past few years. With Robin van Persie joining the recent exodus of star players from the Emirates Stadium, a sense of anguish among the north London side's supporters is understandable.
But this was an accomplished performance, made all the more satisfying by the contributions of Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey.
The Arsenal faithful even mocked their City counterparts' "Poznan" celebration, by turning their backs to the pitch and bouncing up and down when Koscielny found the net.
And at the final whistle the overwhelming emotion in their section was a sense of pride in the continuing improvement of their team.
If the scarcely believable events against Real Madrid at the Bernebeu on Tuesday night had left City deflated and leggy, Arsenal did their best to exploit it during a frantic first half.
Using the energy of Abou Diaby and the guile of Cazorla, Wenger's side were sharper to the ball and swifter to use it, but yet somehow still found themselves behind at the interval.

Fortress Etihad

Manchester City extended their unbeaten home league run to 32 matches, stretching back to a 2-1 loss at Everton in December 2010.

With Yaya Toure restricted to a deep-lying midfield role and Javi Garcia largely ineffectual, Arsenal bossed the midfield battle early on, with Ramsey and Mikel Arteta pulling the strings. It was Arteta's Spanish compatriot Cazorla, however, who really caught the eye.

Whether dribbling or passing the ball, he showed once again that he has the alertness and imagination to see and exploit openings of which others have no inkling.
He was at the heart of Arsenal's most creative moments, combining with Ramsey to put Gervinho in behind the City defence after 16 minutes, only for the forward's first touch to desert him.
Cazorla twice tested City keeper Joe Hart with shots of his own, once from open play and once from a free-kick, as Arsenal attempted to convert their dominance into goals.
Gervinho found space again only to shoot into the side netting, while a low cross by Gibbs skidded across the six-yard line as City defenders willed it to safety.
Only Sergio Aguero, on his return to the side, carried a potent attacking threat. The Argentina striker tested Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone with a wicked low shot after 13 minutes, but it was not until Mancini switched Scott Sinclair, making his home debut, to the right flank that City's luck changed.

Play media

Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version

Wenger credits Arsenal 'spirit'

The home side's goal was straightforward; Silva's 40th-minute corner was headed in by Lescott as Koscielny and Lukas Podolski stood by and Mannone came and missed. Captain Thomas Vermaelen, absent with flu, may just have made the difference.
The goal woke City from their slumber. Mannone went some way to making up for his error by tipping a fierce Edin Dzeko shot just over the crossbar before half-time and City's momentum continued after the break.
Aguero might have gone to ground in colliding with Koscielny in the penalty area. The City striker, to his credit, stayed on his feet only for his shot to be deflected to safety when a penalty might have been greater reward.
Arsenal were far from finished, however, as City retreated deeper and deeper, happy to strike from distance. Cazorla drew a stunning save from Hart with a shot that appeared destined for the top corner.
But Arsenal were not denied for long, finally getting their reward as Koscielny found the net with a thunderous shot after City had failed to clear the resulting corner.
Vincent Kompany almost restored the lead immediately with a dramatic overhead kick, with Aguero forcing a follow-up narrowly wide.
Gervinho might have won it for Arsenal as the clock ticked into injury time, only for his shot to fly high and wide.
It was hard not to imagine what might have been had Wenger been able to call on the services of a world class striker, like Van Persie, to finish off so much of his team's good work.
resource : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19614985

Arsene Wenger backs 'unhappy' Andrey Arshavin

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Andrey Arshavin will feature against Coventry on Wednesday and admits the forward is unhappy at his lack of playing time.

The Russia international, 31, has made just one substitute appearance this season but could start in the Capital One Cup match at Emirates Stadium.
"He's unhappy he doesn't play because he deeply loves football and practises with 100% commitment," said Wenger.

Youth and experience

Players who could feature for Arsenal against Coventry on Wednesday

• Andrey Arshavin - forward, 31 years old
• Andre Santos - left-back, 29
• Johan Djourou - centre-back, 25
• Sebastian Squillaci - centre-back, 32
• Marouane Chamakh - striker, 28
• Emmanuel Frimpong - midfielder, 20
• Nico Yennaris - midfielder, 19
• Craig Eastmond - midfielder, 21
• Serge Gnabry - winger, 17
• Hector Bellerin - defender, 17
• Kris Olsson - midfielder, 17

"I'm happy to give him some competition on Wednesday night."

Arshavin joined Arsenal from Zenit St Petersburg in February 2009 and has scored 30 goals in 137 games for the club.
He enjoyed a spectacular start to life in England, scoring all of his side's goals in their 4-4 draw at Liverpool that season.
Arshavin netted 22 times over the next two campaigns, but only twice in 2011-12 before being loaned back to Zenit in February.
He returned to Arsenal in the summer and came on after 77 minutes of their 0-0 draw with Sunderland on the opening day of the season.
"I have personally a great respect for Andrey because sometimes some wrong ideas circulated about him - that he doesn't care, but it's completely the opposite," explained Wenger.
"He's a 200% professional who works very hard every day in training. At the moment he's a victim of the high level of competition that exists for places.
"I think he has huge respect from everybody in the dressing room, and especially from the staff."
The Frenchman said left-back Andre Santos is another experienced player who will be involved against League One strugglers Coventry in the third-round clash.
Youngsters Hector Bellerin, Kris Olsson, Serge Gnabry, Nico Yennaris, Craig Eastmond and Ignasi Miquel are also expected to play a part.
"Serge Gnabry is a great hope for the future," Wenger added. "He has had some injuries [but] if he continues his development, I think he could play in the first team this season.
"He is in the category of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott - guys who have great power, great pace and good dribbling skills. [He has] goal-scoring potential and good vision as well for the final ball."
resource : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19718118

oliver giroud

Olivier Giroud scored his first goal for Arsenal as the Gunners put six past Coventry to book a Capital One Cup fourth round visit to Reading.

Giroud latched on to Francis Coquelin's pass to open the scoring, but the French striker then missed a penalty.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain netted before Andrey Arshavin scored on a rare start.
Theo Walcott grabbed the first of two goals before Callum Ball replied for the visitors as Ignasi Miquel added to a convincing Gunners victory.

League Cup fourth-round draw:

• Sunderland v Middlesbrough
• Swindon v Aston Villa
• Wigan v Bradford
• Leeds v Southampton
• Norwich v Tottenham
• Liverpool v Swansea
• Chelsea v Manchester United
• Reading v Arsenal

• Full draw story

Chances were limited for League One strugglers Coventry, who have only tasted victory in the two previous League Cup rounds this season.

But new boss Mark Robins would have been impressed by a first-half performance where Stephen Elliott went closest to opening the scoring when his header flew wide following Franck Moussa's teasing cross.
The victory for Arsenal maintained their unbeaten start to the season, while there were significant returns for Arshavin, who made his first start since January, and Emmanuel Frimpong following a bad knee injury last season.
Having handed debuts to Moussa and James Bailey, Robins watched as Richard Wood fired over on the half-hour mark but, once Giroud had a sighter, the former Montpellier frontman beat the offside trap before the break to steer past Sky Blues keeper Joe Murphy.
Giroud's chances of then doubling the lead and his season's tally were thwarted when Murphy saved his penalty when he stooped low to his right after Reece Brown had brought down Arshavin.
Arsenal forward Giroud, 25, was not helped when a pitch invader caused a delay to him taking the the spot-kick and a frenetic period continued when Miquel crashed a header against the crossbar following Murphy's save.
After Wood went close with another header, Oxlade-Chamberlain established a measure of control when the teenager collected Arshavin's pass to fire in from 25 yards.
Arshavin, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Zenit St Petersburg, got on the scoresheet by chesting the ball down and firing in for his first goal of the season.
Arsenal's Nico Yennaris was a mascot the last time the Gunners hosted Coventry 12 years ago, and he set Walcott free to make it 4-0.
Ball gave Coventry something to show for their efforts on 78 minutes, but two minutes later Miquel finished before Walcott added a second, and his third of the season, in the last minute.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "I think we did our job, in the first half we were tested defensively mainly, in the second half our offensive potential made the difference when they tired a little bit.
"From then on of course you had Andrey Arshavin, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud who were always a threat and the difference of quality had a big impact on the result in the end."
Coventry manager Mark Robins: "I think for us it is easy to be hypercritical but it is difficult to be that when you are playing one of the best teams in Europe - regardless of the players he has put on the field, they are quality players.
"It is disappointing to lose the six goals, there is a danger that you look at it and think that is acceptable, that isn't acceptable but it is building it up.
"We ran out of legs and that is something we have got to work on."
resource : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19645217

liverpool

Nuri Sahin struck a late winner as holders Liverpool beat West Brom in the third round of the Capital One Cup.

The Reds went behind early in the game when keeper Brad Jones dropped a free-kick and Gabriel Tamas drove in a shot.
Sahin levelled when his strike squirmed under keeper Ben Foster, before striker Jerome Sinclair, 16, came on to become Liverpool's youngest ever player.
The visitors then produced a well-worked move with winger Oussama Assaidi crossing for Sahin to tap in a winner.

League Cup fourth-round draw:

• Sunderland v Middlesbrough
• Swindon v Aston Villa
• Wigan v Bradford
• Leeds v Southampton
• Norwich v Tottenham
• Liverpool v Swansea
• Chelsea v Manchester United
• Reading v Arsenal

• Full draw story

The victory will provide Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who will welcome former club Swansea to Anfield in the next round, with plenty of encouragement after he sent out a youthful side to begin the defence of the trophy they won last season.

And the introduction of Sinclair, who only celebrated his 16th birthday six days ago, after 82 minutes created a watershed moment in the Reds history as he replaced Jack Robinson as the club's youngest ever player.
Robinson, who made his debut for the Merseysiders at 16 years and 250 days, was part of Liverpool's starting line-up at The Hawthorns and epitomised the youthful look of the visitors' team.
Rodgers made 11 changes from Sunday's Premier League defeat by Manchester United, highlighting his main focus is Saturday's game against Norwich as his side chase a first top-flight win of the season.
The league campaign began badly for Rodgers when his side were beaten 3-0 by West Brom in August, as the Northern Irishman was handed a defeat in his first competitive game in charge of the Merseysiders.

Liverpool's young guns

• Andre Wisdom: 19-year-old English defender
• Jack Robinson: 19-year-old English defender
• Jon Flanagan: 19-year-old English defender
• Martin Kelly: 22-year-old English defender
• Suso: 18-year-old Spanish midfielder
• Jonjo Shelvey: 20-year-old English midfielder
• Jerome Sinclair: 16-year-old English forward
• Raheem Sterling: 17-year-old English winger
• Samed Yesil: 18-year-old German forward
• Daniel Pacheco: 21-year-old Spanish forward

His return to the Midlands club did not start well either as the Baggies took the lead when Jones dropped Liam Ridgewell's free-kick and Tamas gratefully drove a shot into the net from just inside the area.

The visitors were wobbling and Romelu Lukaku had a shot deflected wide before cutting the ball back for fellow striker Markus Rosenborg, whose effort was saved by Jones at the near post.
Liverpool gradually settled with Moroccan winger Assaidi using his pace and trickery to provide the visitors with an incisive threat on the left wing.
One particular jinking run ended with a cross to the near post where 19-year-old debutant Samed Yesil glanced a header wide.
Another goalkeeping mistake let Liverpool back into the match when Foster should have done better than let Sahin's well-struck left-foot strike sneak past him.
It was the Turkish international midfielder's first goal for the Reds since he joined on loan from Real Madrid in the summer and the effort helped the Reds grow in confidence.
Yesil almost benefited from another Foster error when the Baggies keeper misjudged the flight of the forward's shot and was fortunate when his blocked save bounced behind him and over the crossbar.

Play media

Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version

'Outstanding' Reds excite Rodgers

A dipping shot from Liverpool striker Daniel Pacheco skimmed the crossbar before West Brom responded with a Rosenborg sidefooted effort being saved.
Both sides carried a threat but it was Liverpool who provided the quality to engineer a winner.
Substitute Suso ran at the Baggies defence and spread the ball to Assaidi, whose low first-time cross was met with a simple finish by Sahin
resource : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19645199

leeds

Leeds produced a rousing display to dump Everton out of the Capital One Cup on a breathless night at Elland Road.

Rodolph Austin delivered the knockout blow from close range 20 minutes from time, after Aidan White had given Leeds a dream start after four minutes.
Sylvain Distin pulled a goal back with a towering header nine minutes from time and Nikica Jelavic went close as Everton finally found their rhythm.
But Leeds stood firm to spark wild celebrations at the final whistle.

Leeds roll back the years

• Leeds have now won all three of their League Cup ties with Everton (the other two in December 1991 and January 1978)
• This was the first meeting between the sides since a 1-1 Premier League draw at Elland Road in April 2004.
• Neil Warnock's side had been knocked out of the competition by Premier League opposition on each of the last seven occasions before tonight.

Everton manager David Moyes wore a look of disbelief at the final whistle, having made six changes from the side that beat Swansea so convincingly on Saturday.

And while the Scot may have questioned the commitment of his players, he could not dispute the result on a night when Leeds tackled, battled, denied space and dominated territory to reach the fourth round of the competition for only the second time in the past decade.
Tactically smart, Leeds' work-rate was also admirable, their players often doubling up on Everton's main threats like Marouane Fellaini, while Victor Anichibe found he had unwelcome, unstinting company throughout. El Hadji Diouf was tremendous throughout, frustrating and counfounding Everton's defence with a selfless display.
This was a rare whiff of the big-time for a club whose staple diet became top-flight football for so long - the glamour was in short supply, however. Thousands of empty seats and the driving Yorkshire rain saw to that.
But few were moaning about the weather when White erupted on to a loose ball after four minutes, surged beyond Fellaini and between the Everton centre backs before placing the ball beyond goalkeeper Jan Mucha and into the corner with a clinical left-foot shot.
White was on the end of another clever Leeds attack seven minutes before the interval, gathering the ball on the edge of the penalty area after a delighftul exchange of passes between Becchio and Diouf, but his shot was too close to Mucha.

Play media

Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version

Leeds could and should have extended their lead in the dying moments of the first half but Becchio's close-range header was parried by the unwitting Mucha and Steven Naismith clear the ball off the line.
Everton had to improve after the interval and they did. Steven Pienaar fired over from the edge of the penalty area as Everton began to tick. Anichebe picked out Naismith with a pinpoint cross from the left, only for the Scotland international to head woefully wide from six yards.
Yet still Leeds remained a danger. Diouf was a constant menace for Everton and his free-kick picked out Danny Pugh on the edge of the area and his uncertain goal-bound shot bobbled through a crowd of players before Austin steered it inside the post to send Elland Road into raptures.
Everton finally rose up to find hope and with it purpose to make a game of it. Pienaar's free-kick wide on the left was headed on by Anichebe and Distin rose up and headed forcefully beyond Leeds goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown.
Jelavic tested Ashdown with a header from six yards moments later, while a late penalty shout was waved away when Fellaini's struck Jason Pearce's shoulder. But Leeds weathered the cold, the rain and Everton's storm to cling on.
source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19632366

League Cup draw: Chelsea to face Manchester United

Chelsea will host Manchester United in the pick of the fourth round ties of the Capital One Cup.

The two sides, who have won the competition four times previously, progressed following wins over Wolves and Newcastle respectively.
Holders Liverpool, who beat West Brom in the third round, host Swansea in a match that will see Reds boss Brendan Rodgers face his former side.

Cup of champions

Ten previous winners of the League Cup are still in the competition. They are Liverpool, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal, Norwich, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Swindon.

Ties will be played on the week commencing 29 October.

Leeds, who secured a surprise 2-1 win over Everton on Tuesday, face Southampton at Elland Road, while Aston Villa's reward for causing an upset at Premier League champions Manchester City is a trip to Paolo Di Canio's Swindon.
Arsenal, finalists in 2011, head to Reading and Andre Villas-Boas takes his Tottenham side to Norwich in two all-Premier League ties.
"It is a good draw, we're really happy with it," said Royals boss Brian McDermott. "I am sure we'll have a few people at the Madejski Stadium for that.
"We look forward to that but before that we have a big game against Newcastle that we're really looking forward to and tonight's result will be important going into that."
Sunderland's victory over MK Dons has earned them a home fixture against north east rivals Middlesbrough. The two sides met in the fourth round of the FA Cup last year, with Sunderland winning the replay to progress.
Finally, Bradford - the lowest placed side left in the competition - head to Wigan.
Former Swans boss Rodgers expressed his excitement about the draw against his old team.
"The Swansea game will be a special occasion, very much so," said Rodgers.
"It is a wonderful club, a brilliant club, and I was in no rush to leave there. I could only leave there to go to another special club. It will be a great night."
The pairing of Chelsea and Manchester United means the two sides will face each other twice at Stamford Bridge within the space of a few days.
They also meet in the Premier League on Sunday, 28 October, while United host Arsenal at Old Trafford the following Saturday, 3 November.
Capital One Cup fourth round draw:
Sunderland v Middlesbrough
Swindon v Aston Villa
Wigan v Bradford
Leeds v Southampton
Norwich v Tottenham
Liverpool v Swansea
Chelsea v Manchester United
Reading v Arsenal
source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19734569