2011 Football League Cup final

September 2020 2011 Football League Cup final Carling2011 cover.png Match programme cover 2010–11 Football League Cup Arsenal 1 Birmingham City 2 2011 02 27 y Wembley Stadium London Ben Foster (Birmingham City) Mike Dean (Cheshire) 88,851 Mostly cloudy6 °C °FWeather History for London, United Kingdom http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/EGLL/2011/2/27/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA wunderground.com https://web.archive.org/web/20160305204629/http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/EGLL/2011/2/27/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA 5 March 2016 2010 2012 The 2011 Football League Cup final was the final match of the 2010–11 Football League Cup, the 51st season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in the Premier League and the Football League. The match was contested by Arsenal and Birmingham City, at Wembley Stadium in London, on 27 February 2011.Carling Cup Draw Dates http://www.carling.com/carlingcup/draw/ Carling Cup official website Molson Coors Brewing Company 24 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130720040850/http://www.carling.com/ 20 July 2013 dead Birmingham City won the game 2–1 and were guaranteed a spot in the third qualifying round of the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League.Kevin McCarra Obafemi Martins grabs glory as Birmingham beat Arsenal https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/27/arsenal-birmingham-city-carling-cup-final The Guardian Guardian News and Media 27 February 2011 28 February 2011 London Mike Dean was the referee.Officials named for Carling Cup final http://www.football-league.co.uk/carlingcup/news/20110131/officials-named-for-carling-cup-final_2293330_2281129 football-league.co.uk The Football League 31 January 2011 1 February 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110211225301/http://www.football-league.co.uk/carlingcup/news/20110131/officials-named-for-carling-cup-final_2293330_2281129 11 February 2011 Background Arsenal held the advantage over Birmingham in the league matches between the two sides in 2010–11, having beaten them 2–1 at the Emirates Stadium in October and again 3–0 at St Andrew's on New Year's Day.Sam Sheringham Arsenal 2–1 Birmingham https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/9085759.stm BBC Sport 16 October 2010 26 January 2011 Alistair Magowan Birmingham 0–3 Arsenal https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/9328059.stm BBC Sport 1 January 2011 26 January 2011 Arsenal had played in six Football League Cup finals, but had only won two, most recently in 1993 when they beat Sheffield Wednesday 2–1. Birmingham's only League Cup title came in 1963, when they beat local rivals Aston Villa 3–1 on aggregate after a two-legged final. They also reached the 2001 final, which was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff against Liverpool, but the 2011 final was Birmingham's first appearance in the final of a major competition at Wembley for nearly 55 years, their last being the 1956 FA Cup final. Road to Wembley 2010–11 Football League Cup ArsenalRoundBirmingham City Bye Round 2bye1 ABirmingham City3–2RochdaleTottenham Hotspur1–4Arsenal (a.e.t.)Round 3bye2 BBirmingham City3–1Milton Keynes DonsNewcastle United0–4ArsenalRound 4Birmingham City1–1(4–3 pen.)Brentford (a.e.t.)Arsenal2–0Wigan AthleticRound 5Birmingham City2–1Aston VillaIpswich Town1–0ArsenalSemifinalWest Ham United2–1Birmingham CityArsenal3–0Ipswich TownBirmingham City3–1West Ham United (a.e.t.)Arsenal won 3–1 on aggregateBirmingham City won 4–3 on aggregate Pre-match thumb|The starting line-ups being announced before kick-off In the build-up to the game, Arsène Wenger criticised the FA and UEFA for overpricing tickets for their finals. February 2011 A number of Arsenal players missed out on the final. Thomas Vermaelen was not fit, while goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański had been ruled out for the rest of the season. Theo Walcott picked up a sprained ankle in a match against Stoke City a few days prior, and captain Cesc Fàbregas was also injured in that game; both missed the final. Abou Diaby was also injured.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8344252/Arsenals-Theo-Walcott-ruled-out-of-Carling-Cup-final-against-Birmingham-and-Cesc-Fabregas-doubtful.html Arsenal's Theo Walcott ruled out of Carling Cup final against Birmingham and Cesc Fabregas doubtful 23 February 2011 The Daily Telegraph 17 October 2019 For Birmingham, Scott Dann was ruled out for the rest of the season following an injury in the League Cup semi-final, while James McFadden was still not recovered from an injury received in September. Former Arsenal player Alexander Hleb was injured in an FA Cup match the week before, and failed to recover in time to play. David Bentley, who had replaced Hleb in that match, was cup-tied, having played for Tottenham Hotspur in their defeat to Arsenal in the third round. Arsenal were rated heavy odds-on favourites for the match, with Birmingham rated at worse than 5/1 against to win the game in 90 minutes.Squad sheets: Arsenal v Birmingham City https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/25/squad-sheets-arsenal-birmingham-city The Guardian 30 April 2026Arsenal v Birmingham - best odds and match prices for Carling Cup final https://www.footballfancast.com/football-news/arsenal-v-birmingham-best-odds-and-match-prices-for-carling-cup-final/ Football Fancast 30 April 2026 Match Summary right|thumb|The teams lining up for kick-off There was a moment of contention just two minutes into the match as an early Birmingham chance was created through Lee Bowyer, who appeared to be fouled by Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny in what would probably have been a penalty kick and red card for the keeper. However, Bowyer had already been flagged offside (a decision that replays proved was incorrect). After ten minutes, Birmingham's Barry Ferguson was involved in a collision, and played the rest of the game with what proved to be two broken ribs.John Curtis Barry Ferguson to play on with broken rib for Birmingham https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/barry-ferguson-to-play-on-with-broken-rib-for-birmingham-2236659.html The Independent Independent Digital News & Media 9 March 2011 27 July 2019 27 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190727201513/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/barry-ferguson-to-play-on-with-broken-rib-for-birmingham-2236659.html dead Arsenal threatened regularly throughout the course of the match, with an eventual 20 attempts on goal to Birmingham's 11 (both teams were denied by the woodwork once), however the fine work of Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster kept the north London team at bay. Foster would go on to win the man of the match award, and with it, the Alan Hardaker Trophy (also making Foster the first-ever player to win the trophy on two occasions).Foster makes history at Wembley http://www.football-league.co.uk/carlingcup/news/20110228/foster-makes-history-at-wembley_2293330_2304500 https://archive.today/20120731195939/http://www.football-league.co.uk/carlingcup/news/20110228/foster-makes-history-at-wembley_2293330_2304500 dead 31 July 2012 football-league.co.uk The Football League 28 February 2011 4 March 2011 Birmingham took the lead in the 28th minute when a corner kick was sent into the box, Roger Johnson won the initial header towards goal which was then flicked in off the head of Nikola Žigić past Wojciech Szczęsny into the net. Arsenal levelled 11 minutes later when, moments after Jack Wilshere struck the crossbar with a shot, Robin van Persie volleyed an Andrei Arshavin cross in with his right foot. However, Van Persie injured himself upon landing, and while he was initially able to continue, he struggled as the match went on and was eventually substituted by Nicklas Bendtner partway through the second half. Going into half-time the scoreline stayed at 1–1, with both teams failing to capitalise on good opportunities to score a second, including Arsenal's Samir Nasri who had a long-range effort saved, and then in the second half Birmingham's Keith Fahey was denied by the post. On 83 minutes, Birmingham brought on Obafemi Martins in place of Fahey. Six minutes later, and in the final minute of normal time, Martins scored to put Birmingham 2–1 up after a mix-up between Szczęsny and defender Laurent Koscielny. A long ball from Blues keeper Foster, flicked on by Žigić, appeared to be heading safely into the hands of the Arsenal keeper. But Koscielny attempted to play the ball, distracting Szczęsny and causing him to bobble the ball into the path of Martins, who tapped it into an empty net. Too little time was left for Arsenal to recover, and after four-and-a-half minutes of injury time was seen out, Birmingham City secured their second Football League Cup trophy. Details 27 February 2011 16:00 GMT Arsenal 1–2 Report Birmingham City Van Persie 39 Žigić 28Martins 89 Wembley Stadium, London 88,851 Mike Dean (Cheshire) _arsenal1011h _arsenal1011H _arsenal1011h _redstripes FFFFFF FF0000 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Arsenal _birmingham1011h _birmingham1011h _birmingham1011h 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF FFFFFF 0000FF Birmingham City GK 53POL Wojciech SzczęsnyRB 3 FRA Bacary SagnaCB 20SUI Johan DjourouCB 6 FRA Laurent Koscielny 35LB 22FRA Gaël Clichy 52CM 17CMR Alex SongCM 19ENG Jack WilshereRW 7 CZE Tomáš RosickýAM 8 FRA Samir NasriLW 23RUS Andrey Arshavin 77CF 10NED Robin van Persie (c) 69Substitutes:GK 1 ESP Manuel AlmuniaDF 18FRA Sébastien SquillaciDF 27CIV Emmanuel EbouéDF 28ENG Kieran GibbsMF 15BRA DenílsonFW 29MAR Marouane Chamakh 77FW 52DEN Nicklas Bendtner 69Manager:FRA Arsène Wenger300px GK 26ENG Ben FosterRB 2 IRL Stephen Carr (c)CB 5 ENG Roger JohnsonCB 28CZE Martin JiránekLB 6 ENG Liam RidgewellRM 7 SWE Sebastian Larsson 41CM 12SCO Barry Ferguson 90+4LM 18IRL Keith Fahey 83AM 8 ENG Craig Gardner 50AM 4 ENG Lee BowyerCF 19SRB Nikola Žigić 90+2Substitutes:GK 1 NIR Maik TaylorDF 3 ENG David MurphyDF 21ENG Stuart ParnabyDF 23CHI Jean Beausejour 50FW 9 ENG Kevin PhillipsFW 10ENG Cameron Jerome 90+3 90+2FW 17NGA Obafemi Martins 83Manager:SCO Alex McLeish Man of the match Ben Foster (Birmingham City) Match officials Assistant referees: Ron Ganfield (Somerset) Mike Mullarkey (Devon) Fourth official: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)Match rules 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra time if necessary Penalty shootout if scores still level Seven named substitutes Maximum of three substitutions Statistics Arsenal BirminghamTotal shots 20 11Shots on target 12 7Ball possession 56% 44%Corner kicks 6 3Fouls committed 11 9Offsides 2 4Yellow cards 2 3Red cards 0 0 Source: BBC SportPhil McNulty Martins the hero for Blues https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/9405702.stm BBC Sport British Broadcasting Corporation 27 February 2011 8 May 2012 Post-match Arsenal players collapsed to the pitch in devastation upon the final whistle as they suffered extension to the trophy drought that began in 2005 when they beat Manchester United in the final of the 2004–05 FA Cup. Manager Arsène Wenger admitted that the defeat was "very hard to take" but refused to blame anyone for it. He said: "The players are disappointed but we have to pick ourselves up, that's what a team is about. [...] We got what we expected from Birmingham. They are a team who fight very hard and cause a lot of problems from long balls. Congratulations to them, they got the trophy, but we have regrets with the way we conceded the [Martins] goal".BBC Sport - Football - Carling Cup final: Wenger backs 'destroyed' Arsenal duo http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/9409056.stm 2026-09-05 news.bbc.co.uk Despite the intention to recover from the defeat Arsenal would go on to suffer a significant drop in form, losing a great number of the remaining matches, being knocked out of the Champions League and the FA Cup and eventually finishing 4th place in the league.History: Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 2010/11 UEFA.com https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2003764/ https://web.archive.org/web/20250222220809/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2003764/ 2026-09-05 2025-02-22BBC Sport - Football - Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9421189.stm 2026-09-05 news.bbc.co.ukBBC Sport - Football - Saturday football as it happened http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9483110.stm 2026-09-05 news.bbc.co.uk They would not win a trophy until 2014, beating Hull City in the final of the 2013–14 FA Cup.Arsenal 3-2 Hull City - BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27354148 2026-09-05 www.bbc.co.uk Birmingham boss Alex McLeish hailed his team's triumph, saying that the final win was his "greatest achievement" as a manager, adding: "I am so pleased for the fans, they have craved victory for a long time. [...] For a small club like ours to beat Arsenal was a titanic effort. [...] No-one gave us a prayer, we were underdogs but sometimes the bookies don't get it right". Winning goalscorer Obafemi Martins commented that "it means a lot to the fans and the players because Birmingham really needed this trophy", while man-of-the-match Ben Foster reflected on the win saying "the main thing was that the lads kept fighting. You could see how tired we were but we just kept working and working. That's the spirit we've got".BBC Sport - Football - Carling Cup final: McLeish hails 'greatest achievement' http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/9407612.stm 2026-09-05 news.bbc.co.uk Birmingham would later go on to suffer relegation in the league during the season and were knocked out in the group stage of the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League the following season.Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Birmingham City - BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13444710 2026-09-05 www.bbc.co.ukBirmingham 1-0 NK Maribor - BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16081822 2026-09-05 www.bbc.co.uk Notes A. bye1 Clubs competing in the Premier League, but not in UEFA competitions, receive a bye to the second round. B. bye2 Clubs competing in UEFA competitions receive a bye to the third round. References Category:2010–11 in English men's football cups Category:EFL Cup seasons Football League Cup final 2011 League Cup final 2011 League Cup final 2011 Category:February 2011 sports events in the United Kingdom