• Chelsea to host Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge
• United travel to Scunthorpe; Liverpool take on Northampton

Tottenham will host their north London neighbours Arsenal in the third round of the Carling Cup after this afternoon’s draw paired them together.

The two clubs last faced each other in the semi-finals of the competition in 2008, with Tottenham emerging victorious, winning a tumultuous second leg 5-1 at White Hart Lane. Then managed by Juande Ramos, they went on to beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final.

Other ties of note include Newcastle United’s trip to Chelsea, while Blackburn Rovers will be looking for revenge for their semi-final defeat to Aston Villa last season when they travel to Villa Park.

Scunthorpe and Northampton Town face daunting games, the former hosting the holders Manchester United, and the latter taking on Liverpool at Anfield.

Carling Cup third round draw

Brentford v Everton

Portsmouth v Leicester

Stoke v Fulham

Chelsea v Newcastle

Aston Villa v Blackburn

Tottenham v Arsenal

Millwall v Ipswich

Wolves v Notts County

Burnley v Bolton

Birmingham v MK Dons

Liverpool v Northampton

Scunthorpe v Man Utd

West Brom v Man City

Sunderland v West Ham

Peterborough v Swansea

Wigan v Preston

Ties to be played week commencing 20 September

Carling CupTottenham HotspurArsenalChelseaNewcastle UnitedAston VillaBlackburn RoversMillwallIpswich TownScunthorpeManchester CityManchester UnitedBirmingham CityMK DonsNorthamptonLiverpoolBrentfordEvertonWolverhampton WanderersNotts CountyBurnleyBolton WanderersWest BromSunderlandWest Ham UnitedPortsmouthLeicester CityPeterboroughSwanseaWigan AthleticPreston North EndJacob Steinbergguardian.co.uk

Arsenal’s reputations precede them these days. The persecution complex deep-rooted in these parts ensures opponents arrive braced for every hearty challenge to prompt furious protests as home players surround the referee. Yet they should also know by now that the pursuit will only be checked by the final whistle. This team are taking over Manchester United’s mantle for winning late points; their persistence is not in doubt.

What might have been a chastening week ended with Arsenal encouraged, their two-pronged assault on major honours intact when it could so easily have been wrecked. Barcelona’s inability to transform utter dominance into an irretrievable first-leg advantage has offered Arsène Wenger’s team real hope for tomorrow’s second leg at Camp Nou. Their late goal flurry in the first exchange was unforeseen. Victory here on Saturday was not but, as this contest drifted into a fifth minute of stoppage time, the hosts seemed spent. Cue Nicklas Bendtner’s header from Bacary Sagna’s cross and this depleted side continue to cling to the title race.

Had a resilient and committed Wolves team secured an unlikely draw then Arsenal would have travelled to Spain deflated and demoralised. A five-point deficit from the summit would have felt irretrievable, even in this most unpredictable of title races. Instead, they touch down in Catalonia infused by the belief that anything is possible. Such is the conviction that has been generated by six stoppage-time goals in as many Premier League fixtures.

The management, whipped into a frenzy of frustration as this game edged towards its dramatic conclusion, would presumably crave progress less fraught, though there is admiration to be had in this team’s persistence. “It is mental resilience,” Wenger said. “It is the tenacity of the players and the mental strength these players have in them. That’s why I want them so much to be successful because I feel they have in their bodies and in their heads the spirit of champions. It’s easier always to give up and not as easy to continue to go on no matter what happens. It’s a pleasure to see that from the team because we not only have technical ability, we also have true spirit.”

The afternoon’s furore surrounded Karl Henry’s dismissal 24 minutes from time, his sliding lunge taking man and ball and, while Tomas Rosicky writhed in apparent agony, home players surrounded Andre Marriner seeking the dismissal. Wolves’ energy was drained yet further, their rearguard action stretched and energy steadily sapped until Bendtner guided in the winner.

The hosts merited their victory, but profligacy had offered the visitors hope. “They are better than us, had more of the ball, more chances, our keeper made great saves, but you have to put the ball in the net, don’t you?” Mick McCarthy said. “They deserved to win, but they didn’t deserve to get their goal when we were down to 10 and knackered.” Wolves, five points clear of the relegation zone, should collect enough points in their remaining fixtures to retain top-flight status. Their own spirit has been admirable.

Whether or not Arsenal go on to collect the silverware the manager so craves, it is remarkable that their pursuit is ongoing. Wenger’s squad has been rendered paper-thin with four players – Abou Diaby, Gaël Clichy, Samir Nasri and Bendtner – starting this game on the bench purely to protect them with Barcelona in mind. Alex Song will require a test on a groin problem sustained on Saturday before his availability for tomorrow is known, with Wenger considering playing either the Cameroonian or Sol Campbell at centre-half in the absence of William Gallas.

Theo Walcott’s pace exposed George Elokobi and he must do the same to Eric Abidal at some stage tomorrow. Nasri’s ability to create in the Cesc Fábregas role will be just as critical. In truth, the visitors to Spain should be encouraged merely still to be in contention, and will be content to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic ruled out with a calf injury, while both first-choice Barça centre-halves are suspended. Yet, even so, theirs remains a daunting task.

“We will need all the spirit we have,” Wenger said. “But we must remember that we created chances even in the first half when we were dominated [in the first leg]. We must use the ball better, but there are some ideas we have to exploit.” Space could open up late on and, as long as Arsenal remain in touch by then, they will retain hope. Roles will be reversed from Saturday’s domestic encounter, but the resilience must remain.

Premier LeagueArsenalWolverhampton WanderersDominic Fifieldguardian.co.uk