Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was full of praise for midfielder Mathieu Flamini after the Frenchman scored both goals against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Gunners progressed to the next round of the League Cup after the 31-year-old took full advantage of a rare start this season to score two goals at White Hart Lane.
And Wenger revealed that the 31-year-old decided to stay at Arsenal in the summer despite not having any guarantee over regular first-team football at the club.
"You do not expect Mathieu Flamini to score two goals but he was frustrated for a long time and he went for it," Wenger told reporters.
"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 fight.
"Overall we responded well mentally and physically to the challenge we faced and it was a convincing performance."
