Dier: Tottenham’s cup exit feels even worse because it was against Arsenal

By Ben Pearce, Tottenham Correspondent

Published: 12:00 PM September 24, 2015 Updated: 7:18 PM December 7, 2020

Eric Dier is disappointed Tottenham will be unable to repeat last season’s run to the Capital One Cup final – and he admits last night’s early elimination is even more painful because it came against arch-rivals Arsenal.

Dier played throughout the 2-0 cup final defeat to Chelsea on March 1 and, like the rest of his team-mates, was keen to return to Wembley and lift the trophy this term.

But a goal in each half from Mathieu Flamini, sandwiching an own goal from Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, meant the Gunners triumphed 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Wednesday evening as Spurs fell at the first hurdle.

Dier said: “We did well in this competition last year and we said before the game that we wanted to go one step further, so it’s disappointing - and it’s obviously more disappointing being against Arsenal.

“The atmosphere’s always great [in these derbies] and especially being at night I think it adds a bit extra. The fans were brilliant and it’s just disappointing not to get the win for them.

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“We played well and were unlucky to come away with nothing. We got ourselves back into the game at 1-1 and it was disappointing to concede that goal late on. When we got the equaliser the crowd really got behind us and we were pushing.

“It was a bit of a low blow to let that goal in. It was disappointing, a bit of a sloppy goal – a good goal on Flamini’s part but it halted us.”