Arsenal have a golden opportunity to end a five year trophy drought when they face Birmingham City in the Carling Cup Final on Sunday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told BBC Sport his team will be focused on the task ahead of them at Wembley Stadium. “What is important is not what happened in the last five years, but what we can do now,” Wenger told BBC Sport.
The Gunners are still challenging for four different trophies this season, and will enter Sunday’s Carling Cup Final in good form after losing only one of their last 17 games, a run that includes a 3-0 Premier League win at Birmingham.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish also spoke of his desire to end Birmingham’s even longer trophy drought. The Blues have not won a trophy since they won this competition in 1963. “The fans have gone a long time without silverware and we will try to make those fans proud on Sunday,” McLeish told BBC Sport.
Star man Cesc Fabregas is ruled out with injury for Arsenal, along with England winger Theo Walcott. Dutch striker Robin van Persie will return from injury and is likely to captain the Gunners, while Laurent Koscielny and Abou Diaby are also likely to return.
Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome is likely to shake off an ankle injury in time to play, while Alexander Hleb is hoping to recover from a knee problem in time to face his former club.
David Bentley, Curtis Davies and Colin Doyle are all ineligiblr for the Blues, after playing for other teams at earlier stages in this competition.
The Gunners are still challenging for four different trophies this season, and will enter Sunday’s Carling Cup Final in good form after losing only one of their last 17 games, a run that includes a 3-0 Premier League win at Birmingham.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish also spoke of his desire to end Birmingham’s even longer trophy drought. The Blues have not won a trophy since they won this competition in 1963. “The fans have gone a long time without silverware and we will try to make those fans proud on Sunday,” McLeish told BBC Sport.
Star man Cesc Fabregas is ruled out with injury for Arsenal, along with England winger Theo Walcott. Dutch striker Robin van Persie will return from injury and is likely to captain the Gunners, while Laurent Koscielny and Abou Diaby are also likely to return.
Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome is likely to shake off an ankle injury in time to play, while Alexander Hleb is hoping to recover from a knee problem in time to face his former club.
David Bentley, Curtis Davies and Colin Doyle are all ineligiblr for the Blues, after playing for other teams at earlier stages in this competition.
