Tomas Rosicky has maintained Arsenal are deadly serious about landing the League Cup this season as they aim to end a six-year wait for silverware. The Czech playmaker captained the Gunners to a 4-1 extra-time victory over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane last night.

Manager Arsene Wenger, watching from the stands as he served a one-match touchline ban, selected a balanced squad, with Henri Lansbury, who opened the scoring on 15 minutes, the only reserve-team youngster to make the starting XI. The Frenchman has said Arsenal will continue with the same selection policy in a bid to reach Wembley, should he not see his options further depleted by injuries after fullback Kieran Gibbs suffered a foot injury that will keep him on the sidelines for a few weeks.

He is a great talent. For his age, he has a great brain and a big future. When Jack has got the ball, he is very calm.
Tomas Rosicky on Jack Wilshere

The north London giants have not lifted a trophy since the 2004/05 FA Cup final, which was played in Cardiff. Rosicky, who joined from Borussia Dortmund the following season, believes another piece of silverware is long overdue.

"It is important to end the trophy drought because we haven't won anything for a long time," the 29-year-old declared. "You can see the boss is going for it. He wants to win the Carling Cup more this season because he took the whole team here.

"That gives us a better chance of winning it, we have a good enough squad to compete on all levels. I came in 2006 and have won nothing yet. I came here to win trophies, so let's go for it in style."

Robbie Keane had drawn the home side level just after the restart, and neither team was able to find a winner in normal time. However Arsenal went back in front at the start of the first period of extra time, when Samir Nasri slotted in a penalty after being tugged back by Sebastien Bassong, before the France international added another from the spot four minutes later following Steven Caulker's foul on Marouane Chamakh. Andrey Arshavin scored a fourth to silence the White Hart Lane crowd.

Rosicky, who missed a crucial penalty at Sunderland on Saturday, admitted he was somewhat taken aback by the squad selection, which also included a strong bench.

"I was happy I was playing because a game against Tottenham is a great one to play in," he said. "Maybe I was a bit surprised that the whole team came here even though he rotated a little bit, but all the players who played in the starting XI last night showed that they are ready and want to play."

Teenager Jack Wilshere continued his progression with another impressive display, which Wenger hailed as "outstanding". Rosicky believes the 18-year-old, who won his first senior England cap at the start of the season, takes everything in his stride.

"He is a great talent. For his age, he has a great brain and a big future," said the Czech Republic international. "When Jack has got the ball, he is very calm. That is something young players sometimes don't have, they panic a little bit. With him you don't see it because he is very comfortable with the ball, and that is the first quality you are looking for."

I am happy. I am at a great club, in a great team, and I want to do my best and have a great year.
Cesc Fabregas

Arsenal today confirmed Gibbs's injury is not as bad as first feared. The left-back missed a large part of last season because of a broken metatarsal, and with it the chance to feature at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Today's scans have revealed nothing more than severe bruising, but no definitive timescale has been set for the 20-year-old's return.

Arsenal are already without Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Abou Diaby because of injury. However, centre-back Thomas Vermaelen could be available for Saturday's home match against West Bromwich Albion after his Achilles problem.

Fabregas, meanwhile, knows this is a big season for him. The Spain international fully committed to the Gunners' cause recently following a summer of speculation over a move back to boyhood club Barcelona.

"I am completely focused," he told Spanish radio station Cadena COPE. "I know what I want to do and what I have to do. My mind is centred on what happens on the pitch, which I enjoy.

"If I could not play football then I may worry, but while I still can here or wherever, I can say I am happy. I am at a great club, in a great team, and I want to do my best and have a great year."