Cup finals are meant to be enjoyable occasions but this one provides Arsenal with sizeable stress as they face the challenge of claiming a first trophy in six years. Arsène Wenger's team will be expected to flourish against opponents they humbled 3-0 on New Year's Day, even though their captain, Cesc Fábregas, and Theo Walcott are missing through injury. Birmingham, fresh from reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals, may just feel they can cause a shock and win the League Cup for the first time in almost half a century. Sachin Nakrani

CARLING CUP FINAL Venue Wembley Stadium Tickets Sold out Last season n/a Referee M Dean

This season's matches 22 Y78, R2, 3.64 cards per game

sportingbet odds Arsenal 9-20 Birmingham 21-4 Draw 3-1

Arsenal

Subs from Almunia, Eboué, Squillaci, Gibbs, Miquel, Cruise, Diaby, Denílson, Bendtner, Chamakh

Doubtful Diaby (calf), Koscielny (back), Van Persie (hamstring) Injured Walcott (ankle, Mar), Fábregas (shoulder, Mar), Fabianski (shoulder, Aug), Frimpong (knee, Aug), Vermaelen (achilles, unknown) Suspended NoneForm guide (all comps) WDWWDW Disciplinary record Y61 R8 Leading scorer Nasri 14

Birmingham

Subs from Taylor, Phillips, Fahey, Jerome, Murphy, Martins, Hleb

Doubtful Hleb (knee), Jerome (ankle), Jiranek (thigh), Ridgewell (calf)

Injured Dann (hamstring, Aug), McFadden (knee, Aug), Vallès (foot, 1 Mar)

Ineligible Bentley, Davies, Doyle (all cup-tied)

Form guide (all comps) WLWWDW

Disciplinary record Y41 R1

Leading scorer Gardner, Zigic 7

Match pointers

• Arsenal have played in six previous League Cup finals, winning only two of them

• Birmingham have featured in two League Cup finals, winning in 1963 and losing, on penalties, in 2001

• Samir Nasri has scored in all three of his previous games against Birmingham

• Six of the eight Premier League goals Birmingham have scored against Arsenal have come from set pieces

• Mike Dean was the referee for the 2-2 draw between these sides in 2008, best remembered for the leg break suffered by Eduardo da Silva