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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger praises 'hard-working' Mathieu Flamini

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed fighter Mathieu Flamini after the midfielder marked his first appearance of the season with a double strike to help beat Tottenham 2-1 in the Capital One Cup at White Hart Lane.

The 31-year-old, who could have left the club during the summer transfer window, netted a superb second-half volley to secure bragging rights for Gunners fans.

Arsenal had taken a first-half lead when Flamini tucked the ball in from close range following a parry by goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Spurs, though, rallied after the restart and were level on 56 minutes when Callum Chambers deflected a cross from Nacer Chadli past his own goalkeeper David Ospina.

However, it was Arsenal - beaten at Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday - who finished strongly, with Flamini crashing in a fine 25-yard effort on 78 minutes following a ballooned clearance by Spurs defender Federico Fazio to send the travelling support into raptures.

"You do not expect Mathieu Flamini to score two goals but he was certainly frustrated for a long time and he went for it," said Wenger.

"He has worked very hard recently and I saw in training he was very focused, that he had come back to a good level, also I wanted to strengthen our defensive midfield.

"He is a fighter, Mathieu, and a winner as well.

"I told him at the start of the season it might be difficult for him to be a starter, but he decided to stay and he did fight."

Wenger was pleased with the way his team, which included several changes from the starting XI at Stamford Bridge, secured a hard-earned victory.

"Overall we responded well mentally and physically to the challenge we faced tonight, and it was a convincing performance," the Arsenal manager said.

"We were unlucky with the own goal and after found the resources to score a second goal."

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino felt his side had done enough to get a positive result.

"It was a missed opportunity because we dominated the second half and had the better chances," he said.

"In general the performance was very good and I am happy with the effort from my players, but both goals we conceded were a bit lucky maybe. Also we made some mistakes but this is football."

Pochettino defended his decision to select the likes of both Vorm and Fazio, a player who came close to being sold in the summer.

"It is a competition which is a good opportunity for him (Vorm) and we need to show more respect," the Spurs boss said.

"Look at Arsenal - they played Ospina and is the result is on the other side, then it would be the same question for Wenger.

"He deserves to play."

Pochettino continued: "I don't regret (my selections) - you can make mistakes, remember when (Diego) Maradona missed a penalty? These are big players but this can happen, they are not machines.

"We need to take a lot of positive things. Yes, our supporters and us will feel very bad, when you play against your sporting enemy you want to win more, but this is football.

"We need to be happy in the way we played and disappointed with the way we lost the game, but now we need to prepare for the game on Saturday against Manchester City, when we will have one day less to prepare."

Following the final whistle there were some disturbances in the away end, with Arsenal supporters seen pulling down Tottenham signs.

Robin van Persie leaves it late to give Fenerbahce victory over Atromitos

Robin van Persie scored an injury-time winner to snatch Fenerbahce a 1-0 first-leg win against Greek Super League side Atromitos in their Europa League play-off tie in Athens.

Robin van Persie scored an injury-time winner to snatch Fenerbahce a 1-0 first-leg win against Greek Super League side Atromitos in their Europa League play-off tie in Athens.
The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker impressed as he nodded home the only goal of the game from Caner Erkin's left-wing cross with seconds to spare.
Describing his goal, Van Persie said: "I used my body and my shoulder. Sometimes you need to use your body in a smart way. I think the referee made the right decision. There was no foul, I just used my body."
Athletic Bilbao, who lifted the Spanish Super Cup on Monday night after beating Barcelona 5-1 on aggregate, threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against MSK Zilina in Slovakia.
Sabin Merino fired the Spaniards into a 16th-minute lead and when Kike Sola doubled their advantage the visitors looked set for a comfortable evening.
However, second-half strikes from Jakub Paur and Brazilian Willian (2) secured victory to give MSK the advantage.
The game of the night came in Norway as German giants Borussia Dortmund hit back from 3-0 down to snatch a 4-3 victory against Odd, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice.
Arkadiusz Milik's penalty was enough to earn Ajax a 1-0 win at home to Jablonec but fellow Eredivisie outfit AZ were beaten 3-2 by Astra in Romania having led 2-0.
Ligue 1 side St Etienne were held to a 1-1 draw by Milsami in Moldova, with Romain Hamouma putting the visitors in front before the break, only for Cristian Bud to level in the 57th minute.
Fellow French side Bordeaux claimed a 1-0 win against Kairat, with Wahbi Khazri scoring the only goal of the game.
Jay Rodriguez scored his first goal since March 2014 as Southampton were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Midtjylland at St Mary's.
Penalties from Pavel Mamaev and Fyodor Smolov helped Russian side Krasnodar to a 5-1 first-leg win at home to HJK of Finland, while PAOK also hit five without reply against Brondby, with Slovakian midfielder Robert Mak grabbing a hat-trick.
Standard Liege lost 2-0 to Molde in Norway and Young Boys of Switzerland were stunned 1-0 by Qarabag of Azerbaijan.
Elsewhere, there were home wins for Dinamo Minsk, Slovan Liberec, Sparta Prague, Plzen and Lech Poznan, while Legia Warsaw, Belenenses and Rosenborg were winners on the road.
Panathinaikos drew 0-0 with Gabala in Azerbaijan and Rubin Kazan were held 1-1 by Robotnicki in Macedonia.

Arsenal slump to 2-1 defeat by Dinamo Zagreb after Olivier Giroud is sent off

Arsenal had striker Olivier Giroud sent off as they slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat in their Champions League Group F opener at Dinamo Zagreb.

The France forward collected two needless cautions in the first-half before Dinamo took the lead against the run of play with an own-goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after the ball bounced back off him past goalkeeper David Ospina, who had saved Josip Pivaric's shot.

After Giroud's dismissal on 40 minutes, Dinamo doubled their lead through a powerful header by Junior Fernandes. Despite a late goal from substitute Theo Walcott, Arsenal were left to reflect on another frustrating European away performance.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, perhaps with one eye on Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Chelsea, made six changes from the team which had beaten Stoke, which included a start for Ospina.

Arsenal started brightly as Giroud, preferred in attack to Walcott, saw an early header tipped over. The English club, in Europe's elite competition for an 18th successive campaign, continued to dominate at the Maksimir Stadium, which felt the force of an earthquake measuring 3.2 on the Richter scale on Tuesday night not long after Wenger's pre-match press conference.

Dinamo had not lost in a formidable run of some 41 matches and last season became the first team to go unbeaten through a Prva Liga campaign. However, the Croatians had never previously qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, with a 15-game winless run in the competition proper and were yet to beat an English side.

On 24 minutes, Dinamo went ahead completely against the run of play. Pivaric was played into the left side of the Arsenal penalty area inside Mathieu Dubuchy. His near-post effort was saved by Ospina, but cannoned back into the net off Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Arsenal's evening got worse five minutes before half-time when Giroud was sent off. The France striker, who had already collected an earlier caution for dissent, tripped Daniel Ivo Pinto, which gave Romanian referee Ovidiu Alin Hategan little option but to issue a second yellow card followed by a red.

Dinamo almost doubled their lead at the start of the second half when El Arbi Soudani glanced a header against the far post, with the rebound scrambled behind. It was 2-0 on 57 minutes when Fernandes got above three Arsenal defenders to head home a left-wing corner at the near post.

Wenger had seen enough, and soon made a treble substitution as Walcott, who once scored a hat-trick for England here, Francis Coquelin and Joel Campbell all came on. Walcott reduced the deficit on 79 minutes when he produced a cool finish after sprinting clear onto Sanchez's pass down the right, but there was to be no late drama despite some five minutes of added time.

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal were 'a bit unlucky' after defeat at Dinamo Zagreb

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hit out at Romanian referee Ovidiu Alin Hategan for sending off striker Olivier Giroud after the Gunners slumped to a 2-1 defeat in their Champions League Group F opener at Dinamo Zagreb.

The France forward missed a couple of early chances before collecting two cautions in the first half, for dissent and then tripping Daniel Ivo Pinto.

Dinamo went on to record their first Champions League win since September 1999, having taken the lead against the run of play with an own goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when the ball bounced back off him past goalkeeper David Ospina, who had saved Josip Pivaric's shot.

The hosts doubled their lead through a powerful header by Junior Fernandes and despite a late goal from substitute Theo Walcott, Arsenal were left to reflect on another frustrating European away performance.

Wenger - who had made half a dozen changes with one eye on Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Chelsea – pulled few punches in his assessment of the official.

"We were a bit unlucky tonight," the Frenchman said. "I believe the first goal is offside and after the sending-off is very harsh.

"We were not at our best, but nor was the referee tonight.

"The first yellow is Giroud's fault because he protested, even if it was not a foul against him. But after he should not have responded to the referee.

"The second yellow card, he is unlucky to touch the guy - he did not see him. It was accidental completely, but it happened.

"I don't understand the referee. It has to be on purpose, a foul on purpose. Then the referee should have given many yellows tonight."

Wenger, however, accepted Arsenal were well below the required performance.

"We have for a part to look at ourselves also, because the second goal kills our game. On the corner we were guilty not to defend it well," he said.

"When you don't win the game you have to look at yourself and think you haven't got it right.

"I don't believe the players who came in had a bad game but it didn't work, it didn't work.

"I have to analyse that well. It is very difficult to give a definite answer straight after the game."

Arsenal next host Olympiacos before a double-header with group favourites Bayern Munich.

Wenger said: "Mathematically, we can qualify without any problem if we produce our performances that we want at home.

"Overall, I believe we have problems to start in every competition this season. We had problems in the Premier League and again in the Champions League tonight, but I am confident we can put that right in the next five games."

Dinamo Zagreb manager Zoran Mamic had warned his side had no intentions of giving Arsenal an easy ride at the Maksimir Stadium.

Mamic praised the way Dinamo – who have never qualified for the knockout stages - went about their business.

He said: "I am very happy and proud. I thank the team for doing what I told them and the fans for pushing us when Arsenal had us under pressure.

"Now they have such confidence because see how good they really are.

"After this we are ready for anything which might come, but are also aware of the strength of the group and cannot fall into euphoria."

Diego Costa will be marked man after Arsenal antics, warns George Graham

Former Arsenal boss George Graham has warned Diego Costa he faces being targeted by officials after his indiscretions in Chelsea's 2-0 win over the Gunners on Saturday.

Graham is adamant the Spain striker should have been sent off for bumping the chest of Laurent Koscielny and raising his hands to the Frenchman's face in the first half at Stamford Bridge before Gunners defender Gabriel saw red for retaliation.

Although Costa got away with only a yellow card, Graham says referees are now likely to seek to ensure he does not escape stricter punishment in future.

Graham told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek: "I think (Costa) is going to be targeted man now by the officials and probably rightly so.

"(Didier) Drogba was the main (Chelsea) man for nearly 10 years and he was very, very physical but he didn't take to the extremes that Costa has taken it to.

"Although you've got to keep that physical intensity, once you step over the mark he's got to be dealt with by officials, it's as simple as that - and I think he will be."

But Graham also suggested Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger ought to be stricter with his own players, with Santi Cazorla's second-half dismissal taking the number of Gunners players dismissed in the Premier League to 79.

Graham added: "(Wenger) is not the most strict manager and he really needs to get hold of his own players because there's no way he (Gabriel) should have been sent off - it's his own stupidity that got him sent off and they've got to handle that.

"(But) Arsene does it his way and look at the record he has got in English football - he has been instrumental in getting a certain way of playing, the diet - he's brought all these things and trophies as well so how can you fault him?"

Chelsea striker Diego Costa awaiting possible sanction from Football Association

Diego Costa and Chelsea can today expect to discover from the Football Association if the striker has a case to answer for his role in Saturday's feisty victory over Arsenal.

Jose Mourinho was seething when Costa was retrospectively sanctioned in February for treading on Liverpool's Emre Can, part of a perceived "campaign" against his side which included a Sky Sports montage entitled 'Costa's Crimes'.

The Chelsea boss would be expected to be similarly unhappy if Costa is charged for a series of incidents involving Arsenal defenders Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel, after labelling the striker "fantastic" and his man of the match following the 2-0 win.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had a contrasting view and hopes referee Mike Dean will look again at Costa's actions after filing his match report by today.

The match officials should have been aware of Costa's reputation during his first 14 months in the Barclays Premier League, says Wenger, but statistics show the striker did not commit a foul in the match.

The Gunners boss rebuked Dean for allowing the running feud between Costa and Gabriel to continue before the Arsenal defender saw red.

"He (Dean) let it go and I don't know why," Wenger said.

"I would like Mike Dean to look at the whole action that happened during the game and see if he stands for his decision.

"You have a fourth official, you have a linesman, the referee and they talk all the game. They can tell you and they know Diego Costa. He is not a newcomer.

"It is surprising. If I am a referee and I referee Diego Costa, I do not send somebody off quickly if he responds to it because you know he has been well provoked."

Wenger, though, did not condone Gabriel, who was sent off for reacting to Costa's taunts, insisting that even if a player is spat at he must keep his cool.

Gabriel became involved after Costa grappled with Koscielny, pushing the defender in the face with his hands before catching him with a flailing arm.

"You have to be above that," Wenger added. "To be professional, to me, is to deal with that. You can spit in my face and if it's in a game then I will not respond. I do not guarantee that outside of the game.

"The desire to win has to be above all of that."

Mourinho chastised Gabriel for losing "emotional control", insisting Costa kept his.

He said: "Of course. That's (the opinion of) people that don't have the same opinion as I have.

"When you work the way he did, his movement, his creation. He was fantastic.

"The opponents have to keep emotional control, because to play against an attacking player that is aggressive, that goes to every ball, that fights for every ball, that is physical, it's difficult."

Arsenal win appeal against Gabriel red card at Chelsea

Arsenal have won an appeal against Gabriel's sending-off at Chelsea.

The centre-back was dismissed for kicking out at Chelsea forward Diego Costa during Saturday's ill-tempered clash at Stamford Bridge.

However, the Football Association announced in a statement on Tuesday it has accepted Arsenal's challenge to the decision and withdrawn the three-match suspension.

Gabriel still faces a separate charge of improper conduct for his reaction after being shown the red card by referee Mike Dean.

The swift decision means Gabriel becomes available for selection in Wednesday night's Capital One Cup tie at Tottenham.

The FA statement read: "Arsenal's claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Gabriel has been upheld following an independent regulatory commission hearing.

"The player's three-match suspension has, therefore, been withdrawn with immediate effect.

"Gabriel was dismissed for violent conduct during the game against Chelsea on Saturday [19 September 2015].

"The player is currently subject to a separate FA charge of improper conduct in relation to Saturday's game and has until 6pm on Thursday [24 September 2015] to reply."

Gabriel lost his cool following a confrontation with Costa, who had earlier pushed Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny in the face and then barged him to the ground.

There was a precedent for the suspension being overturned.

Last season, Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic saw his ban reduced after reacting to a dangerous tackle by Burnley's Ashley Barnes, with the governing body accepting he had used a moderate "level of force" when pushing his opponent.

Gabriel, however, could still be sanctioned for failing to immediately leave the pitch following his red card, as the player tried to then confront Costa before being restrained by his team-mates.

The FA also charged both Chelsea and Arsenal for failing to control their players.

'Arsene Wenger must put faith in Theo Walcott'

After European disappointment in midweek, Arsene Wenger needs to trust Theo Walcott for the trip to Chelsea, writes BT Sport columnist Mike Calvin.

Even now, 18 months on, the memory of Arsene Wenger’s distress has lost none of its clarity or cruel power.

The defining image of the worst day of his football life captures him leaning forward in his seat at Stamford Bridge, covering his eyes with his left hand and massaging his temples in a poignant attempt to ease the strain.

His 1,000th match as Arsenal manager had turned into a self-confessed “nightmare.” Chelsea won 6-0 and the home crowd were chanting “specialist in failure” before half time.

Uniquely in my experience, Wenger lacked the moral courage to attend the post-match press conference. He later sought to take responsibility for the calamity, and absolved his players of blame.

That highlighted the excessive loyalty which will return to haunt him unless he makes a bold selection for tomorrow’s return to Stamford Bridge, which will be live on BT Sport.

It is a game neither team can afford to lose, though the momentum has shifted in Chelsea’s favour following contrasting midweek fortunes in Europe.

As Rio Ferdinand said, during the inquest into an ominously predictable Champions League defeat in Zagreb, Wenger needs to trust Theo Walcott.

He remains an enigmatic figure, who lacks the instinctive composure of a natural striker. His movement causes problems, yet no player has missed more chances in the Premier League this season.

Wenger insists Walcott will prove to be prolific, despite his conversion rate, but falls short of guaranteeing him the consistent run of games he needs to become a cohesive part of a shape-shifting Arsenal attack.

The weaknesses in Olivier Giroud’s character, underlined by self-destructive rashness and an increasing habit of snatching at opportunities, make a vow of faith in Walcott even more timely and significant.

Wenger’s reluctance to strengthen in the summer is already being felt, since the limited depth of his squad was brutally exposed in Croatia.

It was a wasted opportunity for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, in particular. He failed to make a case to start consistently, since he lacked dynamism and defensive resolve.

The reliance on Francis Coquelin, who was rested along with Petr Cech, Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Aaron Ramsey and Walcott, represents a glaringly avoidable problem.

He embodies the hunger and durability Arsenal will require in what is guaranteed to be a febrile atmosphere tomorrow, when Cech’s return to Chelsea will be another intriguing subplot.

They must answer the slur they are a soft touch, a team to embroider important matches rather than dominate them. As for Wenger, he must simply pray history doesn’t repeat itself.

Ledley King brands Gabriel 'naive' over Diego Costa clash

Former Tottenham captain Ledley King insists he would have not been wound up by Diego Costa in the same "naive" way as Arsenal's Gabriel was on Saturday.

Chelsea striker Costa was involved in altercations with both Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel towards the end of the first half of the Blues' 2-0 win - with the latter shown a red card for his reaction in front of referee Mike Dean.

Arsenal have since appealed against the dismissal while Costa has subsequently been charged with violent conduct for his part in the spat.

In the end though, the absence of Gabriel saw Arsene Wenger's men struggle in the second half - with Santi Cazorla also sent off in the closing stages as goals from Kurt Zouma and Eden Hazard earned Chelsea the points.

A Capital One Cup third-round clash with fierce local rivals Spurs is next up for Arsenal, with King saying he would have treated the challenge of Costa differently to give his side the chance of getting a result.

"It depends what kind of person you are, what kind of player you are," he said when asked about the best way to deal with an aggressive striker such as Costa.

"Costa is clever and he probably picked on the right player and he got what he was looking for - Gabriel was naive in that sense. As a player you have to figure out a way to get back at him at the best way possible.

"To me that is staying on the pitch and making sure you make it as hard as possible for him to score - that is the way I would have done it.

"He is a player who knows what he is doing but I would have loved to have played against him - he is different and it is not something we are used to, it is intriguing and it is up to players to work out how to deal with him and how to cope with him best.

"There weren't too many times when players wound me up but when it did happen it just gave me that incentive to really shut them down and make sure they didn't get a sniff.

"Everyone is different and has different ways of trying to deal with players but ultimately you want to win the game and the best way to win it is to stay on the pitch and have a say on the result. That was my motto."

Spurs lost in the final to Costa's Chelsea last season but, with such a young squad at Mauricio Pochettino's disposal, King feels that experience will help the players in their quest to win a trophy this year.

"It was a great run last season - obviously just falling short against Chelsea," he added.

"Being at Wembley, I could see what it meant to the fans - they were proud to be there with an opportunity to win something. There were a lot of young players and maybe the inexperience cost them against Chelsea.

"Having that experience behind them will be great for the team and having the opportunity to go back to Wembley again they will expect a different outcome.

"That is the aim. Get through this tie and work their way back to Wembley again. You get a taste for it, once you have gone through that game, although you come out a loser, it is great experience and good players will take something from it to make them a better player.

"I lost to Blackburn in 2002 as a young player and you think the chance is going to come around every year and it didn't for me. I got to the final six years later and drew on those experiences and we won it."

:: Ledley King was speaking on behalf of The Football League and Capital One - the credit card in your corner. Visit facebook.com/CapitalOneUK

Arsene Wenger: Arsenal can banish recent frustrations by beating Tottenham

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called on his players to put their recent frustrations behind them by knocking local rivals Tottenham out of the Capital One Cup at White Hart Lane.

The Gunners go into the north London derby on the back of successive defeats, losing 2-0 at Chelsea following the away loss in their Champions League opener to Dinamo Zagreb.

Wenger believes his men were the victims of some rough justice in both matches, seeing forward Olivier Giroud sent off in Croatia while there were controversial red cards for both defender Gabriel and midfielder Santi Cazorla at Stamford Bridge, with Gabriel's having been overturned following an appeal.

The Arsenal manager, though, hopes having another big showdown can help his players get back on track.

"I believe we were unfortunate in Zagreb to have a man sent off, and at Chelsea as well, but you want your players to behave in a perfect way and not to show any response at all," Wenger said on Arsenal Player.

"We have shown our frustration a little bit in both situations and you cannot afford that."

Wenger continued: "We want to get back into winning habits and that is why the momentum is even more important for us.

"Every single game that you play with Arsenal you want to win, especially this one which is a bit more special because it is always a big meaning."

Tottenham beat Crystal Palace 1-0 on Sunday to move into ninth place, and just a point behind Arsenal.

Wenger has been impressed by the development of Mauricio Pochettino's squad.

"They had a slow start but since then they have had two good wins, so that will have boosted their confidence," the Gunners boss said.

"It makes you think it will be a very even game tomorrow."

Wenger suggested he would not be intending to blood too many youngsters at White Hart Lane, with Alex Iwobi and Glen Kamara perhaps the most likely to be promoted to the senior squad.

"We go game by game, so I will make changes, for sure. How many? I have not decided yet," said Wenger,

"It will be quite an experienced squad with one or two younger players."

While Cazorla is suspended, centre-back Per Mertesacker is available again following illness.

Defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin picked up a knee problem during the first half at Chelsea.

Wenger said: "His knee is swollen and he is being assessed, but we hope it is just a short-term problem."