Carling Cup Final - Arsenal v Birmingham
The Carling Cup final plays Sunday at Wembley between Arsenal and Birmingham. Both sides are looking to end some silverware droughts. Arsenal last won the trophy in 1993 and Birmingham goes all the way back to 1963. The Gunners are the easy favourite. In Premier League play, Arsenal are second while Birmingham are 15th.
Arsenal were the runners-up to Chelsea in the 2007 Carling Cup, also known as the Football League Cup. Birmingham were runners-up in 2001 when they were a Championship side. Today, the Gunners are going for a quadruple this season while Birmingham is just trying to avoid relegation.
The Gunners are unbeaten in the last eight matches against Birmingham. Samir Nasri has scored three goals in three fixtures against the side and has 15 on the season. He has 5/1 odds at Ladbrokes to score first. Another good option to score first for Arsenal is Nicklas Bendtner at 9/2 odds. He has six goals in his last seven Carling Cup matches. Not only that, Birmingham have conceded first in seven of their last nine League Cup matches.
Still, Birmingham have lost just one of their last seven matches. Arsenal have been hit with the injury bug with Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Vermaelen, Lukasz Fabianski and Emmanuel Frimpong all missing time. As a result, Robin van Persie will captain the Gunners on Sunday. Birmingham should be able to keep it close at the half. It gives good value to a half-time draw and full-time Arsenal win with 7/2 odds at Ladbrokes.
Six of Birmingham’s last eight goals came on set pieces. The tall striker Nikola Zigic should get some looks and has seven goals, including two in his last two Carling Cup starts. His odds to score anytime are 3/1 at Ladbrokes. All in all, Arsenal should be able to take the home the trophy.
Arsenal v Birmingham Match Odds (supplied by Ladbrokes)
Arsenal: 1/2
Draw: 3/1
Birmingham: 6/1