Arsenal:
                Lehmann
       Lauren Toure Senderos Cole
   Cesc (Edue 69) Vieira Gilberto Pires
Reyes (Aliadiere 88) van Persie (Bergkamp 69)

Arsenal should have taken the lead in the first minute. Van Persie slipped a ball through the middle for Reyes to run onto. Robinson came out but Jose rounded him to the right. It took him just a little further wide than he'd have liked, and on his weaker right foot, and he couldn't quite hook the ball back far enough, sending the shot into the side netting.

On 8 minutes there was a lovely ball from Cesc from right to left, finding Reyes in the D. It wasn't easy to control but he did manage to bring it down well, only for King to get across and clear before Jose could get a second touch.

Then Defoe was put through on the right wing. His cross was cut out by Toure, with Kanoute waiting beyond him, and he managed to direct the interception straight into Lehmann's arms without it looking controlled enough to count as a backpass.

Then Cole slipped a terrific ball forward for Pires on the left wing. He took it deep and cut the ball back into the box, but pulled it too far back and Dawson did well to get it clear. They broke through Defoe on their left again, but Senderos dealt with it in a nice aggressive way. A minute later Defoe controlled a ball forward with back to goal just outside the D, and turned Toure well before trying a chip that probably had Lehmann beat but went high and wide. And soon after that we were slack brining the ball put of defence and gifted it to Defoe again. He forced a terrific save from Lehmann and I think it was Pires that got a crucial block on the follow-up shot.

But despite the above flurry of activity up the wrong end, Arsenal were in control. 21 minutes in we took advantange of it at last, and took advantage of Spurs' ambitions by hitting them on the break. Cesc showed great strength and control bringing the ball out through the centre circle, then passed forward for Reyes to run onto in the inside left channel. He took it deep before hitting a perfect low left footed shot past Robinson and just inside the far post.

5 minutes later there was another excellent cross-field ball from Cesc, this time for van Persie who did well to out-muscle a defender and get a shot in from just inside the box on the left. Ledley King got over to make another important block.

Superb wing-play from Lauren (having as good a game as I've seen for a while) saw him beat his man on the goal-line and cut it back towards van Persie, but Carrick intercepted. Then Vieira went down as he burst into the box with the ball but the ref was probably right not to give the penalty as Paddy looked to be looking for it a bit too much.

Reyes was cynically blocked by Edman on the right wing (not really noticed Edman much before but he does seem to be something of a tosser). Van Persie sent the free kick looping towards the far post where Vieira met it unmarked but, possibly because he saw it late, didn't get enough on the header and sent it inches wide of that post.

Fabregas hit a nice first time shot which wasn't easy as the ball was rolling quickly past him from left to right, and it was that motion of the ball which probably caused him to get too much bend on it, swerving just wide of the right hand post.

5 minutes before the break Vieira was robbed far too easily by Defoe. He passed up their right for Kanoute who looked to have got past Senderos but the young defender tracked him well, caught up, and got a brilliant sliding tackle in inside the box.

Van Persie turned beautifully but bent his shot just wide from the edge of the box. Moments later we broke up the left. Pires showed good strength beating his man on the touchline and passed forward for Reyes. He took the ball on then sent a looping cross to the far side of the box where Cesc, coming up unmarked, hit a cracking volley that was blocked by Edman's head without him knowing much about it.

Tottenham had a bit more of the ball for a while at the start of the second half. But nothing too dangerous. There was a clash of heads between Cesc and Edman which left the Spurs man on the deck and the ref had to stop play for treatment as Arsenal started to break. Unusually, some would say unsportingly, Spurs contested the resulting drop-ball, just outside our box.

Defore lashed a half-chance high of the bar, and then Spurs had a string of corners. Defore stood on Lehmann's foot, twice, and of course the keeper moaned to the ref who had a word with the striker. He came out to punch but only managed to glance it out for another corner. This time it was Lehmann's turn to have the ref talk to him, after he pushed Defoe and the Spurs man went down like a sack of spuds. But Lehmann kept his composure and caught the corner (he had a bloody good game with his catching, snuffing out several dangerous situations). They had a couple more corners in quick succession, and from the second Dawson had a free header but jumped too early and ended up getting under the ball and heading it high over the bar.

With Tottenham having a bit too much possession and too many half-threats, Bergkamp and Edu were brought on with 21 minutes to go, for Cesc and van Persie. Pires moved to the right wing so Edu could go on his more-favoured left. The Brazilian had an excellent spell and showed why we'll miss him as back-up for Vieira, Gilberto, Flamini, and Cesc.

Toure had a go from a 35 yard free kick and it very nearly came off, his swerving dipping shot just not dipping enough, and skidding out off the top of the bar. Then with 15 minutes to go Pires looked to be playing for a 1-2 with Edu in the D but Edu had other ideas and hit a superb arcing shot with the outside of his foot which surprised Robinson but not quite enough.

Then there was lovely classic Arsenal spell, keeping possession all over the pitch and taking it from left to right before central to Gilberto in the D. He slipped it to his left for Reyes who was in space, but he blasted into the side netting.

Keane came on for Defoe with 10 minutes to go, just long enough to get in some brilliant moaning and a classic miss. But first Reyes broke from our box up to theirs and passed left for Bergkamp who moved the ball onto his right foot before hitting a far post curler that didn't curl quite enough. Reyes, source of so much threat throughout the game, broke again and this time fed Edu whose powerful shot was blocked.

With 3 minutes to go Reid played a good cross in from their left which found Keane unmarked a few yards out - a gilt-edged heading chance which he glanced just wide of Lehmann's left hand post.

Aliadiere came on for Reyes at the death, and there was just time for the Tottenham players, led by Keane, to harass the ref after Cole, trying to shepherd the ball out of play for a goal-kick with Keane running close behind, fell on the ball as it went over the line. He may have touched it with a hand but the corner was the right decision.

Tottenham still have a shout at the UEFA cup place but will have to finish off a few of their half chances to do it. One-nil may be a lesser scoreline than some were predicting/hoping for, but it'll do us. Another splendid defensive performance from this young team. Hard to pick out anyone in particular but Senderos just edges it, if only for the way he was shouting encouragement at the rest of the defence as they waited for the second half kick off. A born leader, perhaps...? Cole, if he stays, may have competition for the captain's armband, if Vieira ever leaves. Toure was superb too, so Sol must be wondering when he'll get a chance. Maybe the midweek game against Everton so as to keep the others fresh for the cup final...?