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Mathieu Flamini took out frustration at not playing on Spurs - Arsene Wenger

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 Calum Chambers deflected a cross from Nacer Chadli past his own goalkeeper David Ospina.

However, it was Arsenal -- beaten at Chelsea in the 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."

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