Jeremie Aliadiere scored the decisive goal as Arsenal reached the League Cup final with a 3-1 extratime victory against Tottenham on Wednesday.

Emmanuel Adebayor had given Arsenal the lead in the closing stages at the Emirates Stadium before Egyptian international Mido came off the bench to equalise with five minutes remaining.

But Aliadiere punished a horrific mistake by Tottenham defender Ricardo Rocha in extra-time and Tomas Rosicky with a wicked deflection off Pascal Chimbonda added a third to seal a 5-3 aggregate triumph and set up an allLondon final against Chelsea in Cardiff on February 25.

Arsenal had fought back from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw in the first leg at White Hart Lane and manager Arsene Wenger -- who has never reached the League Cup final in his tenure as

Arsenal boss -- kept faith with the talented youngsters who inspired that revival.

Tottenham boss Martin Jol, well aware that his club haven't won a major trophy for eight years, picked a more experienced side, although England winger Aaron Lennon was left on the bench.

Spurs had scored in the early stages of the first leg and they nearly repeated the trick after an incisive 10th minute move cut open Arsenal's defence.

Michael Dawson spotted that Robbie Keane had been left unmarked and threaded a pass through to the Irishman. Keane looked odds-on to score but Manuel Almunia was quick to race off his line and saved bravely at his feet.

Kolo Toure should have given Arsenal the lead moments later after Paul Robinson spilled Denilson's shot, but the Ivory Coast defender, following up from close range, somehow contrived to miss the target completely.

That near-miss encouraged Arsenal to push forward and Aliadiere worked space for a shot

before dragging his effort past the far post.

Spurs crafted a well-worked chance seven minutes before the break when Hossam Ghaly swung over a cross from the right which Steed Malbranque met with a diving header that flew just wide.

Tottenham had failed to win any of their previous 16 meetings with their bitter rivals and Arsenal, growing in confidence as the match wore on, finally broke the deadlock in the 77th minute.

Rosicky, on as a second half substitute, forced a save from Robinson with a fierce strike and Tottenham were punished for failing to clear the rebound.

Gael Clichy pounced on the loose ball and slipped a pass back to Rosicky inside the penalty area. The Czech midfielder played a precise ball through to Adebayor, who kept his nerve to beat Robinson with a low shot.

But, just as Arsenal's fans were beginning to make plans for a trip to Cardiff, Mido made them think again.

With just five minutes left,

Jermaine Jenas whipped in a freekick from the left and Mido, sent on just moments earlier, rose highest to glance his header past Almunia.

Mido nearly won it when he collected Jermain Defoe's pass and skimmed a low shot agonisingly wide of Almunia's far post.

There was still time for Robinson to make two superb stops to deny Denilson and Toure before the end of normal time.

Arsenal's youngsters were full of running in extra-time and the goal their ambition deserved arrived in the final minute of the first period.

Denilson swung in a low cross and Rocha, a recent signing from Benfica, opted to try and clear with his head rather than boot the ball to safety.

The Portugal defender only managed to divert his clearance to Aliadiere, who gave Robinson no chance with a powerful finish.

Any doubts that Arsenal would reach the final were erased in the 113th minute when Rosicky's shot deflected in off Chimbonda to confirm Tottenham's first defeat in 14 cup matches this season.