EXCLUSIVE! Tottenham legend Gary Mabbutt says the 5-1 win against Arsenal was among the greatest performances he has seen from a Spurs side.

The White Hart Lane hero savoured a comprehensive Carling Cup semi-final victory, and said he was surprised the margin of victory was not even greater.

"It was one of the best performances I have seen from the team for a long, long time and, being against Arsenal, the support was magnificent. It was a thoroughly deserved victory," Mabbutt told eurosport.yahoo.co.uk.

"Even though we hadn't beaten them for 21 games, from the very first whistle we outmuscled them, we outplayed them, we outthought them and we outbattled them.

"I am a great admirer of Arsene Wenger and some of the football his team play, but we just didn't give them the opportunity. I don't think I have ever seen an Arsenal team torn apart like that.

"Arsene Wenger came out and said the scoreline didn't reflect the game, and I agree with him totally - it should have been 8-1 rather than five!

"I also haven't seen an Arsenal team as undisciplined as that, losing their cool with each other. When that happens, you know you have got them beaten."

Mabbutt said the on-pitch confrontation between strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner showed how badly rattled the Gunners were.

"Whenever players have rucks with each other on the field it is remembered because it happens so infrequently," he said.

"There are obviously disagreements in the dressing room and on the training pitch, but for that to happen in a match just showed how Arsenal were torn apart."

The victory continued cup specialist Ramos's remarkable unbeaten run in knockout competitions with Tottenham and Sevilla, and Mabbutt believes the Spaniard is starting to stamp his authority on the team.

"When he arrived we had enormous defensive problems, conceding a lot of soft goals, and he made that his number one priority, putting in a lot of hours on the training field," he said.

"He has also benefited from the return of Ledley King, who is an excellent player and also makes Michael Dawson more secure alongside him.

"We need European football again next season and obviously the cup competitions are our best chance of getting that."

Mabbutt said he would like to face Tottenham's other great capital rivals, Chelsea, in their first trip to Wembley for the final, but suspects an upset could be on the cards.

"It would be great to play Chelsea as London rivals, but I actually think Everton could shade it, even from a goal down," he said.

"I think the African Cup of Nations could have even more of an impact on Chelsea than on Everton, so tonight could be Everton's night."

Alex Chick / Eurosport