ARSENE Wenger rued a host of missed chances as Arsenal crashed out of the Carling Cup at Burnley on Tuesday night. Scottish midfielder Kevin McDonald scored either side of half-time to deny the Gunners a third successive semi-final appearance, but it coul

ARSENE Wenger rued a host of missed chances as Arsenal crashed out of the Carling Cup at Burnley on Tuesday night.

Scottish midfielder Kevin McDonald scored either side of half-time to deny the Gunners a third successive semi-final appearance, but it could have been a different story with Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela the main culprits in front of goal.

"It was a game we should never have lost - you have to praise their goalkeeper and question the strikers," said the Arsenal manager after the 2-0 defeat at a sold-out Turf Moor.

Arsenal return to Barclays Premier League business this weekend, buoyed by Sunday's 2-1 win at Chelsea, when Wigan Athletic visit the Emirates.

And Wenger wants his side to reproduce the commitment they showed at Stamford Bridge after admitting that inexperience has cost them during the season as a whole.

Meanwhile at Watford on Wednesday night, Darren Bent leapt off the bench to fire Tottenham into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup at Vicarage Road last night.

With Manchester United the only other Premier League team in the final four, along with Championship sides Burnley and Derby, Spurs now have a real chance of making it to Wembley for the second year in a row.

It was Watford who took the lead 13 minutes in as Tommy Smith pulled the ball back to Tamas Priskin, who fired a left-foot shot past Heurelho Gomes.

Spurs then dominated possession but needed a Pavlyuchenko penalty to equalise after Jenas had been clipped by Ross Jenkins inside the box.

Spurs laboured to build any sort of momentum after the break but with 25 minutes remaining, Redknapp introduced Bent in place of Fraizer Campbell. Eleven minutes after emerging from the dug-out, a lucky deflection off Pavlyuchenko sent the England striker clear inside the penalty area, and he made no mistake with a low drive which flew in past Loach at the near post.

It was Bent's first goal in six games but enough to send Spurs through to a two-legged showdown with a place in a second successive cup final at stake.

"The team played well, we created chances and got the result," said Redknapp. "It will be a great occasion but whoever we play it will be a tough game. Manchester United have won tonight and Derby and Burnley did fantastic so whoever we play it will be difficult.