Unfortunately, Arsenal got more into the game as the second half progressed, and without Edgar Davids by his side, Carrick slowly began to lose the firm grip he held in midfield for the opening hour or so.
"Carrick as always for the first 70 or 80 minutes was probably second to none," Martin Jol said in the Daily Telegraph.
While the Tottenham Head Coach exhumes the belief that there be no individualism within the team, a lot of hopes are naturally pinned on the shoulders of Carrick - the creative playmaker turned holding midfielder.
The 24-year-old said afterwards: "Maybe it was a learning experience for us on killing teams off, but it wasn't for the want of trying. We're all still on the younger side.
"The expectation levels have gone up now we're in the top three. It's something we have to live with if we are going to be a successful," he added in the Daily Mirror.
Prior to the weekend derby with Arsenal, Carrick told The Sun: "The gaffer has put a lot of faith in me and given me responsibility. I’m more experienced now and starting to live up to my potential — I can’t get away with being a youngster any more.
"I know I’ve improved a lot as a player since I’ve been at the club but I also need to take games by the scruff of the neck and be consistent. It’s OK having a bad game every now and then but if you want to be a top player it’s about doing it week-in, week-out.
"Experience is the key, the more you play the more you learn. You have to stay confident, believe in the way things are going and keep that consistency."