Carling Cup Final Preview
Team News
For Arsenal Fabianski, Vermaelen and Walcott are all injured, but whilst Arsene Wenger has ruled out Cesc Fabregas, there is much intent from the Spanish international to feature in Sunday’s Cup Final. Diaby, Koscielny and Van Persie are doubtful, but should be available for the Gooners.
Both Curtis Davies and David Bentley are cup-tied for Birmingham. Dann and McFadden are definitely ruled out, but Hleb, Jerome and Ridgewell should all be fit enough to play.
Route to the Final
Arsenal
Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal. HT 0-1
Keane (TH), Lansbury (AR), Nasri[2] (AR), Arshavin
Newcastle 0-4 Arsenal. HT 0-1
Krul[OG] (AR), Walcott[2] (AR), Bendtner (AR)
Arsenal 2-0 Wigan. HT 1-0
Alcaraz[OG] (AR), Bendtner (AR)
Ipswich 1-0 Arsenal. HT 0-0
Priskin (IP)
Arsenal 3-0 Ipswich. HT 0-0
Bendtner (AR), Koscielny (AR), Fabregas (AR)
Birmingham
Birmingham 3-2 Rochdale. HT 1-1
McFadden (BIR), Murphy (BIR), Derbyshire (BIR), Jones[2] (ROC)
Birmingham 3-1 MK Dons. HT 3-0
Hleb (BIR), Zigic (BIR), Gardner (BIR), Wilbraham (MKD)
Birmingham 1-1 Brentford. HT 1-1 [Birmingham win 4-3 on penalties]
Phillips (BIR), Wood (BRE)
Birmingham 2-1 Aston Villa. HT 1-1
Larsson (BIR), Agbonlahor (AST), Zigic (BIR)
West Ham 2-1 Birmingham. HT 1-0
Noble (WHU), Ridgewell (BIR), Cole (WHU)
Birmingham 3-1 West Ham. HT 0-1
Cole (WHU), Bowyer (BIR), Johnson (BIR), Gardner (BIR)
Key Stats
- Birmingham have not kept a clean sheet on route to the final
- Arsenal have scored 13 goals and conceded just twice on route to the final
- Nasri has already scored twice against Birmingham in the league and has two goals in the Carling Cup
- Zigic has scored against Arsenal at the Emirates and has 2 goals in the Carling Cup
- 6 of 8 goals Birmingham have scored against Arsenal in the Premier League have arose from set pieces
- Arsenal are unbeaten in the last 8 head to head meetings against Birmingham; winning 5
Betting Tips
- Nasri to score anytime @2.75
- Arsenal HT @2.05
- Draw HT/Arsenal FT @4.00
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