Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has praised Mathieu Flamini's appetite to fight for a first-team spot after scoring twice in tonight's 2-1 League Cup win at Tottenham Hotspur.

The 31-year-old was an unlikely hero on his first appearance of the season as he netted in both halves to help the Gunners into the fourth round and settle the North London derby at White Hart Lane.

Flamini, Arsenal's third-choice defensive midfielder, said that he had a point to prove after staying at the Emirates despite his first-team hopes looking bleak, and Wenger hails his courage.

"You do not expect Mathieu Flamini to score two goals. He was certainly frustrated for a long time and he went for it," the Frenchman told the club's official website of his compatriot.

"He scored two good goals, especially the second one. I think on the second one he made an early decision to go for it and just focused and finished with a great goal.

"He is a fighter and he is 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's side were paired with Sheffield Wednesday in the fourth round.