Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Denilson, Wilshere, Nasri, Song, Arshavin, Van Persie

Birmingham (4-4-2): Foster, Ridgewell, Jiranek, Johnosn, Carr, Fahey, Gardner, Ferguson, Larsson, Zigic, Martins

Referee: Mike Dean. Matches 29 R4 Y 99


Tale of the game
Arsenal are bidding for their first trophy since 2005 when they beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final, at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, where they needed penalties to claim silverware.

In two Premier League meetings this season, Arsenal have won both. In October, at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal won 2-1 but had Jack Wilshere sent off.

On New Year’s Day the teams met at St Andrew’s and Arsenal left with a 3-0 win. One previous meetings in the competition, at Highbury, saw Arsenal win 4-1 in extra time.

Tony Hey gave Birmingham the lead, Luis Boa Morte replied and scored again in extra time, with a David Platt penalty and fourth goal from Alberto Mendez completing the rout. But both teams finished with 10 men.

Birmingham’s Darren Wassall was first to go and was soon followed by Arsenal’s Jason Crowe.

Arsenal were in action on Wednesday night, against Stoke in the Premier League, and won 1-0. But the victory, which takes Arsenal to within a point of leaders Manchester United, came at a cost.

Theo Walcott twisted his ankle and has been ruled out of the final while Cesc Fabregas injured a hamstring and could be a doubt.

They face Birmingham unbeaten in 11 (in all competitions).

Birmingham, meanwhile, beat Sheffield Wednesday to reach the last eight of the FA Cup, last Saturday, and in all competitions have lost just one of their last seven games.

Arsenal reached their seventh League Cup final – and first since 2007 – by beating Tottenham, Newcastle, Wigan and Ipswich.

Birmingham, meanwhile, are in their third League Cup final, having won the competition in 1963 and finishing as runners-up in the 2001 final.

Arsenal test Robin van Persie (hamstring) and Laurent Koscielny (back) but Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and Emmanuel Frimpong (knee) miss out.

For Birmingham, Scott Dann (hamstring), Eric Valles (ankle) and James McFadden (knee) are out and there are tests for Martin Jiranek (hip) and Liam Ridgewell (calf).

Previous Carling Cup meeting
October 14, 1997 Third Round: Arsenal 4 Birmingham 1 (AET).

Stat of the game
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight meetings, in all competitions, against Birmingham, winning five and drawing three.

Match

magical stroll in the park for the gunners

otokx:

magical stroll in the park for the gunners

ya think??

@poster wtf is denilson doing on your list?

I will give it to gayners for consolation purpose,
But in case they were unable to beat birmingham they should be ban from playing in england.

Arsenal 3-1 birmingham.

adagz 01:

I will give it to gayners for consolation purpose,
But in case they were unable to beat birmingham they should be ban from playing in england.[/b]Arsenal 3-1 birmingham.

Man Utd was not banned for losing to wolves, [b]wetin concern u for our matta , We will win without Ref's help lik Man utd always fixing matches with their debt money

So now, you are still comparing yourself to a "team".

adagz 01:

I will give it to gayners for consolation purpose,
But in case they were unable to beat birmingham they should be ban from playing in england.

Arsenal 3-1 birmingham.

Please note:
All Chelshit and Man.ure fans shud stay outta this. For real. You guys have lost the right to call us gayners, gooners or even gunners.

@topic, van persie is back and better nw, hez playin 2mao, we da bst. UP GUNNERS!!! To all haterz, na una sabi ooo.

There's no better time than now to play the carling cup finals, I'm sad Febregas isn't fit to lift the trophy, anyway V. Persie go help am sha. Enemies oju ti yin

Gooners go out dere and do ur thing [/b][/b][/i][/i]

kayci_d77:

Man Utd was not banned for losing to wolves, wetin concern u for our matta , We will win without Ref's help lik Man utd always fixing matches with their debt money

pls note i'm not wishing bad to gayners.
Manutd losing to wolves is like any ordinary match not much at stake but after almost 6yrs of being trophyless and u got the chance to redeem your team then you got whip by one low profile club them you gotta come to 9ja league.

Arsenal to take the day. . . . . . As a chelsea fan i give you guys my 100% support

I go dey look

game starts 5pm (local time)

note:
local = naija time _{not gambia or sierra leone}

gooners to lose on penalties 4-3!

kayci_d77:

Very easy to kno when pathetic chelsea fans are talking, You guys should concentrate more on qualifying for champions league next season than bewitching Arsenal the true champions

True champions,how?
Hmmm, true champions of trophylessness!

i am an arsenal fan and i hope arsenal wins, i av a feeling that martins is gonna be a threat to d arsenal defence 2marow if he plays

i really pity u gonners. martins et al will show u guys d stuff dey are made of.

Arsenaaaaaaaal!!

RuuDie:

game starts 5pm (local time)

note:
local = naija time _{not gambia or sierra leone}

breaking a jinx is often difficult. i dont expect the game to be easy for the Gunners. All the best to Wenger though!! winning this will be very good to the team morale

it is going to be a tough match,but i believe arsenal will win

I believe today will be suprise for the Chelsea who are laughing us that we've not received any trophy since 2005 and what are there position because the top 4 not sure for them now,

go gunners and make us proud

otokx:

magical stroll in the park for the gunners

Bros abeg no talk like dat,this is a league cup final and those blues are bound to play as if their lives depended on it.I pray our guys don't cop any injuries on our way to lifting the trophy

Best of luck guys,we've waited too long for this

awesome[img]http://2.s07.flagcounter.com/count/DymW/bg=ffffff/txt=ffffff/border=ffffff/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/[/img]
[img]http://s07.flagcounter.com/count/DymW/bg=ffffff/txt=ffffff/border=ffffff/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/[/img]

Birmingham players already first out to warm up.

Arsenal Line UP- Wojscez, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Song, Wilshere, Rosicky, Arshavin; Nasri; van Persie

Subs- Almunia, Denilson, Eboue, Chamakh, Bendtner, Gibbs, Squillaci


Birmingham XI: Foster; Carr, Jiranek, Johnson, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Bowyer, Fahey; Zigic.

Here we go,

chai na today c ceremony

and it start

Ref has started already.

Clear on side.

Thats a clear pen.