Arsenal wouldn’t be Arsenal without defensive cock-ups in the League Cup, or suspect defenders for that matter.
It was far worse in 1969 when Arsenal got beaten in the final by a team two divisions below them in Swindon Town. And then it was defensive mistake between Ian Ure and Bob Wilson which let in Roger Smart which set Arsenal on the road to defeat. They went on to win the Fairs Cup in 70 and the double in 70-71.
There are similarities between the Birmingham game and Luton in 1988 who were lower down the football hierarchy. The Luton goalkeeper Andy Dibble pulled off some great saves, before Arsenal central defender Gus Caesar mis-kicked on the goal-line to let Wilson equalise, with Stein scoring a late winner. I was right behind the goal, to witness that disaster, like on Sunday. Arsenal went on to win the league in 89.
So if history repeats itself then Arsenal should win a trophy in 2012.
As for no trophy in six years, Arsenal went 17 years without a trophy between 1953 and 1970 – that’s 11 years longer than the current drought. But there was no lack of passionate support. There was also an 8 year gap between 1971 and 1979.
So in many ways the six years without a trophy mantra has been created due to the success under Wenger – it is a hoist for his own petard.
Gooners were in good voice on the way to Wembley singing: she wore a yellow ribbon, Na-na-na, Emmanuel, Rocky etc;
At the final whistle one threw his scarf into the crowd and left. A Dad comforted a six year old kid who was bawling.
The mood was quiet amongst Gooners on the way home.
One in the long tube queue was going beserk saying; “There’s no leaders.â€
Some Gooners around said the best chance is the league because they won\’t blow a final. And given the stats, Arsenal have lost more finals than won under Wenger with a hat-trick of final defeats since 2006.
However one said that winning the Carling Cup gets you 12% extra points on your league games, on average.
The team and players do reflect the manager. There\’s a mental fragility there.
And Arsenal fans are fed up with the stubbornness of Wenger. More than one asked why he didn\’t buy Gary Cahill in the window.
The seeds of defeat were probably sown in the Stoke match. With Fabregas and Walcott, Arsenal may well have won. But Lee Dixon pointed out the different attitudes of the players pre match – the discipline of Birmingham, vis a vis the un-coordinated, individualistic attitude of the Arsenal players.