Andy Gray's Arsenal v Birmingham verdict
I don't like saying this but it really is hard to make a case for Birmingham. Arsenal have the stronger 11, the deeper squad, a manager more used to preparing for big matches and plenty of players who have played in cup finals before.
A few years ago, when Arsenal reached the Carling Cup Final and were up against Chelsea, they fielded pretty much the same 11 that had got them there; players like Jeremie Aliadiere, Julio Baptista, Justin Hoyte and a very young Theo Walcott.
I can see the logic behind that as it rewards those players with a rare chance to play in a big final. But as the seasons go by and Arsenal fail to pick up a trophy, Arsene Wenger's policy has changed somewhat and we've seen him field increasingly stronger sides in this competition.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Arsenal's absolute best 11 taking to the field on Sunday afternoon. Yes, they have an FA Cup midweek replay against Leyton Orient to think about but with all due respect to the O's, Wenger will see that as a match in which he can play a slightly weaker side and still win.
I like Alex McLeish and the way Birmingham go about their business. They're a good club with loyal supporters and play the game in an honest way but if Arsenal start passing the ball around like we all know they can and keep possession for long periods of the game, I fear the worst for them.
And I don't think there will be any slacking or saving of players if Arsenal do go a goal or two up. In the pre-match talk, the Frenchman will tell his players that it's over five years since they won anything and that they should treat this match as if it were the Champions League Final. They simply can't afford to slip up.
One player who isn't used to these sort of matches is young Jack Wilshere but you'd never know it from watching him play. He more than held his own when up against the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta last week and just seems to get better and better with each game.
I was intrigued to see him deployed in a deeper role by Fabio Capello when England played Denmark a couple of weeks ago and it's testament to how good he is that he played pretty well in his first international start in a position that he's not really accustomed to.
Whether he plays more matches for England in that position is of course up to the manager but I actually prefer to see him used as more of a playmaker. He can be pretty dangerous in the last third of the pitch and although he hasn't scored many, I'm sure he'll add that to his game as well in due course.
A far more regular goalscorer of course is the superb Samir Nasri and his return after injury has given the whole team a real boost. My money is on the French international getting on the scoresheet again on Sunday as Arsenal win pretty comfortably.
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Back Arsenal to win in 90 minutes at [1.59]
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Back Samir Nasri to score at [2.8]
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Published: 25 Feb 2011
Alan Maile (February 25, 2011 9:37 AM) said:
For the last 5 years Gooners have been telling me that the Carling Cup is of no interest to them. Can I expect silence in the stadium when Arsenal score and all their supporters to leave the ground at the final whistle instead of staying for their lap of honour. Thought not.
harry (February 25, 2011 9:44 AM) said:
we've got bigger fish to fry, challenging for the title, challenging for champs league and fa cup but we'll take this trophy and of course cheer, also cheer louder as it is us winning silverware and not you
mjc (February 25, 2011 10:17 AM) said:
I'm guessing, Alan Maile, that your a Tottenham fan...?
What you are failing to understand is that winning this trophy will be a monkey of our back, and might well be the first in a deluge of trophies for Cesc's Arsenal.
Might also be worth pointing out that one League Cup is all Spurs have won for TWELVE years....
raj (February 25, 2011 6:58 PM) said:
alan..are you a joker?lol..spurs wont even make top4 this season..!
Kaje (February 25, 2011 9:23 PM) said:
Not sure if anybody as noticed, but the game will actually be contested between two sets of 11 players on Sunday.
Yes, Arsenal will make up one side of the 11 but the other 11 will be a team from Birmingham. Their players will be just as hungry as those from Arsenal, if not more-so as they haven't won a major trophy for 50+ years.
Also, we've seen what Birmingham have done to Arsenal in the past in terms of nicking results and nabbing draws. Who's to say they won't take it all the way to the lottery of penalties (where ANY team can beat ANY team)? Or that they'll need penalties at all, I mean, they could win outright?
But no, the media would hate that wouldn't they? Their beloved Arsenal losing out on yet another trophy?
So, rather than sit back and lap up this potentially embarrassing over-confidence - why not give some credit to the other team in the final?
They have just as much chance as Arsenal do.
Mark (February 25, 2011 11:13 PM) said:
It's a disgrace the way anyone outside of Birmingham have written Birmingham off??!!! Is there any rule that says Birmingham can't win??! Arsenal are stronger and better than birmingham admittedly.. This is a one off match, over 90 minutes.. I really do hope arsenal replicate the attitude shown by the press.. You could be in for ONE HELL OF A RIDE!!! c'mon you blue boys!!! K.R.O!!
Gwibbsy (February 26, 2011 8:20 AM) said:
Be nice if Andy Grey said a bit more about blues not just arsenal! Big Eck does have experience of big matches so thats rubbish! A bit about our players wouldnt go a miss Mr Grey! usual biased in pundantry and the press! We have got to the final give us credit and actually see both sides of the story! yes we are massive underdogs but you never know dont write us off just yet!
Zahara muhd jibo (February 26, 2011 5:16 PM) said:
We will win the carling cup tommorow
Horace Horlicks (February 27, 2011 11:11 AM) said:
I've backed Arsenal to win quadruple at 1500-1, so am hoping this is the first leg up the ladder. To be honest , I'm looking at Birmingham midfield with Gardner, Bowyer and Ferguson and I think Arsenal will be far superior in that dept with Nasri, Wilshire and Song. But I think Birmingham's big striker Zigic will get a goal. My conclusion is a 3-1 win for the Gunners.
Scotland (February 27, 2011 1:24 PM) said:
I expect Birmingham will make it tough for Arsenal to find space, and will
look to play it like a home game of defending well and trying to catch
Arsenal on the counter.
Arsenal will miss the invention of Fabregas in such a situation, but there
are enough players with creative abilities to eventually unlock the
Birmingham defence. I just dont have much confidence in this
Birmingham side to fight back on a big pitch if they go a goal down and so
I imagine Alex McCleish will look for his side to keep this as tight as
possible for as long as possible.
With the possibility of a tight first half, it may be best to play this game
with the Draw HT-Arsenal FT market.
My prediction is 1-0 Arsenal.
Padmeister (February 28, 2011 11:10 AM) said:
And how are we all feeling now?
Never underestimate the magic of the cup!
Horace Horlicks (February 28, 2011 11:11 AM) said:
Congratulations to Birmingham. They got their tactics right. Fair play to them. But I actually think Arsenal played quite well and the omens for them to win bigger trophies this year are good. If and it's a big if, they have all the big guns available (Van Persie, Fabregas, Walcott, Wilshire, Nasri) then I believe they can beat Barcelona in the Champs League and Man Utd in the F.A CUP and League. Arsene Wegner and the Arsenal fans would probably settle for a consolation treble after the disappointment of missing out on the quadruple. I'm a Fulham supporter, as you all know and I think our boys can do Arsenal a big favour by taking points of United at Old Trafford later on. In conclusion I think Arsenal still worth speculative bet at 100-1 to win the treble with SKYBET.
Alan Maile (March 1, 2011 9:42 AM) said:
MJC Guess again. I am a Man U fan and I don't even live in Surrey. Learn how to spell YOU'RE!!!
RAJ Your guessing is about as good as MJC's so come on have a go at what the mighty red devils have won, not Tottenham.
By the way, congratulations to Birmingham and my apologies to their supporters for being convinced on these pages that all Arsenal had to do was turn up.