The Final of the Carling Cup in Cardiff ended in ugly scenes when Obi (Chelsea) clashed with Toure (Arsenal) and several players from both teams, including both managers, Mourinho and Wenger, got involved in an ugly altercation.

Referee Howard Webb had no alternative but to brandish three red cards to Mikel (Chelsea), Toure and Adebayor (Arsenal) as well as yellows to Fabregas and Lampard.

There were over 11 minutes of added-on time before the final whistle was blown to hand the first major trophy of the season to Jose Mourinho’s side, who are still in the hunt for three other pieces of silverware.

Before the ugly scenes Arsenal had taken the lead on 12 minutes through young Theo Walcott after he easily beat the Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho. However Didier Drogba scored a brace, the second just six minutes from time to see Chelsea come from behind to secure the first piece of major silverware of the season.

Arsenal’s young side [average age less than 21] could feel a little aggrieved to lose what was an intriguing final, the last to take place at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, having domination large portions of the game. The youngsters showed few nerves and produced some lively flowing football before eventually running out of steam to the more experienced team and the clinical finishing of Drogba, who scored his 27th and 28th goals of an excellent season.

How things looked very different for Chelsea early on in the game as the dynamic Arsenal midfield made Chelsea expensive line up look a little ordinary. The early pressure and good play rewarded by Walcott’s first goal for the Gunners. Not a bad time to score your first goal, a major showcase final. Unfortunately their lead did not last too long, but the equaliser from Drogba, even though clinical, was also controversial. When Michael Ballack played a ball over the top for Drogba, the Arsenal back line pushed up, but Ballack ran on to slip the ball under Manuel Almunia.

It was an extremely close decision given in favour of the attacking team and Wenger, in somewhat typical fashion, spent much of the remainder of the first half displaying his anger at a linesman’s failure to flag offside.

The young Gunners continued to attack Chelsea from all angles and could have resgained their lead just before half-time but for Carvalho to intervene and to deny Jeremie Aliadiere.

And even after the break, Arsenal continued to look the more likely scorers, with Diaby denied by Cech and Fabregas shooting just the wrong side of the post.

Chelsea then lost skipper Terry midway through the half when he took a boot in the face from Diaby as he tried to finish off an Arjen Robben corner.

Terry looked to be knocked unconscious and a mask was applied to his face to help with his breathing before he was carried off the field and taken to hospital. Terry really is having a bit of a bad time at the moment with regards to injuries. He had been doubtful for the final after only lasting a few minutes of the Champions League tie in Porto after spraining his right ankle.

However, the loss of Terry only seemed to fire up his team-mates and they finished strongly and Arsenal’s young legs surprisingly began to tire.

Drogba had a shot excellently saved by Almunia and then Lampard produced a long-range dipping shot that rattled against the bar.

However, Chelsea’s increased pressure paid off in the 84th minute when Robben’s cross picked out Drogba and he headed past a stranded Almunia.

Shevchenko had an opportunity to make the extended injury time more less uncomfortable but his drilled shot thundered back off the bar again.

So it was a game too far for the young Gunners but Wenger should be applauded for sticking with them. As Alan Hanson once famously said, “You don’t win anything with youngsters!” Oh yes, he got that wrong didn’t he and Wenger proved it again!

The Soccer Blogger

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Thierry Henry, along with other senior squad members will not play against Chelsea in the all London Carling Cup Final next weekend.

Wegner has used this season’s Carling Cup for younger and fringe members of the squad to gain valuable experience and such players as Walcott, Denilson and Aliadiere have certainly not let him down. The Arsenal youngsters have recorded impressive wins over Liverpool and their arch north London rivals Tottenham Hotspurs on their way to the final and Wegner sees no reason to either change his policy at this stage or deprive them of their chance on the major stage of a cup final. Good for him! They do deserve their chance.

Wegner stated that, “The competition is a bit special for me so I will keep it special to the end.

“Thierry will not be involved as it would not be fair to play the big players. They must have contributed at least one game.

“I will play the players who have made the whole campaign.

“Thierry knows from the start that he is not involved in this competition. I don’t see a problem with that.

“I say today he won’t play next Sunday, but if we have three injuries he will play. You can never say never in our job. But if everybody is available, he will not play.”

Hmm, I wonder if Theo and a couple of others might suddenly be struck with a pulled muscle in training sometime next week? Stranger things have happened in football! I’m sure Jose won’t be surprised if the team sheet has a few big names on it.

Though I must admit, I do think Wegner will stick to his guns this time, he’s just banged on about it too much for him to back down now.

The Soccer Blooger