Spurs the Value to Reach Carling Cup Final

Tottenham are available at a cracking 10/3 (bet365) to win at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night and book their place in the Carling Cup final. There are a number of reasons why this price is attractive, compared to the odds-on quotes about the Gunners, who will surely field a weakened team again. Indeed, Spurs would be going into this match with a healthy advantage, had they not sat back after going 2-0 in last week's first leg tie. The Arsenal second string looked there for the taking at that point but were invited back into the match thanks to Spurs complacency and the finishing of Baptista. However, Sunday's 1-1 draw with Bolton means an increasingly hectic fixture schedule for Arsenal and a greater likelihood of resting Fabregas and Henry during the week. There's no question that Arsene Wenger regards retaining the FA Cup as a much greater priority than triumphing in this competition, whereas Spurs (who are 9/4 to qualify with bet365) will be desperate to win their first piece of silverware under Martin Jol. They've been helped by receiving a bye in the next round of the UEFA Cup, giving them even greater focus on Wednesday's match and Arsenal often feel the pressure in front of their fans, as Sunday testified. Aaron Lennon is in brilliant form and could be worth a bet at 20/1 (William Hill) to open the scoring. Steed Malbranque is also attratively priced with the same firm at 14/1 to notch first for the away team. Cast your mind back to last season and you'll remember that Wigan travelled to Arsenal with a slender advantage and managed to squeeze through to the final. Providing Tottenham aren't overrun in the early stages of Wednesday's match, there's a strong chance of history repeating itself.