Birmingham give Gunners cup-final blues
Birmingham 2 Arsenal 1 (Carling Cup final Wembley 27 February 2011)
Arsenal's 6 year wait for a major trophy continues as Birmingham strike late at Wembley to win the Carling Cup.
Birmingham started positively and should have had a penalty within 2 minutes but play was wrongfully brought back for offside and the Blues had to wait until the 28th minute to take the lead when Roger Johnson headed a corner onto the head of Zigic who flicked the ball past Szczesny in the Arsenal goal. Szczesny blocked an effort from Zigic in front of goal in the 34th minute but 5 minutes later Wilshere rattled the Birmingham crossbar and Arshavin picked up the rebound, turned past 2 defenders and pulled the ball back for van Persie to volley home. Nasri stung the palms of Foster with a swerving shot moments before the break and Fahey struck the inside of Arsenal's upright in the 58th minute, but the Gunners piled on the pressure with Foster making vital saves from Bendtner and Nasri until Birmingham substitute Obafemi Martins pounced on a misunderstanding between Koscielny and Szczesny to knock in the 90th minute winner for the Blues.
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