Arsenal odds-on to end up empty-handed
Carling Cup Final man-of-the-match Ben Foster wasn't attempting to kick Arsenal while they were down after inspiring Birmingham's underdog success, as shown by his admirable show of support for opposite number Wojciech Szczesny, who was exposed for the decisive goal.
Therefore, his assessment of why the Blues got the better of vastly superior opponents has to be taken at face value, and this was his verdict: "The spirit we've got in there, it's amazing. They may have a lot of quality players but they haven't got the team spirit we've got."
It's a view that many pundits appear to agree with and the natural question is that as Arsenal failed to capitalise on as clear a chance to lift a trophy as a club could ask for, odds-on from the semi-final stage with two strugglers and a Championship side for company, are they capable of winning anything?
The majority of Betfair punters are of the belief that the Gunners are set for a fourth straight season without silverware, pricing the possibility at [1.81], whereas - as we noted in the aftermath of the 2-1 Champions League victory over Barcelona, it was previously backable at incredible odds of [8.2].
Their [3.15]-rated Premier League prospects will be clearer in seven days once Manchester United have completed tricky trips to Chelsea and Liverpool. Arsene Wenger's men are four points behind and should defeat out-of-form Sunderland at the Emirates, so need the Red Devils to stutter at least once.
Arsenal's quest to regain the last cup that they won, the FA Cup, continues against Leyton Orient on Wednesday but even if, as expected, they see off the League One overachievers, a daunting quarter-final trek up to Old Trafford awaits, dissuading wagers on them finally winning at Wembley at [5.3].
And there are still very few bettors confident that the north Londoners will progress in the Champions League despite their 2-1 advantage over Barcelona. They are [3.25] to reach the quarter-finals, [18.5] to go all the way and unsurprisingly therefore [60.0] to do the treble.
How do you see Arsenal's season panning out? Tell us below...
Published: 28 Feb 2011
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