Arsenal schoolboys throw away Carling Cup

Arsenal 1 Birmingham City 2. Arsenal lost more than just the Carling Cup Final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon. They lost striker Robin van Persie to a knee injury, they lost credibility as title contenders and Arsene Wenger has lost much of his reputation.

It was the manner of the winning goal that will haunt the Gunners for weeks and months to come, a goal that would have shamed a schoolboy side. Nikola Zigic's header upfield on 88 minutes was hit more in hope than anything, allowing Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny ample time to clear the danger.

But indecision and unawareness, the hallmarks of the Arsenal defence this season, created mayhem in the Gunners' penalty area. Koscielny appeared to have the rolling ball covered, only to draw back his foot at the last minute, as if hearing a shout from Szczesny. But the stooping Szczesny, instead of gathering the ball, allowed it to ricochet off his knee into the path of Obafemi Martins who tapped it home with glee.

It was heaven for Birmingham fans, who hadn't celebrated a trophy since 1963, but hell for the Arsenal faithful who must be wondering when their six-year wait for silverware will end.

On the evidence of Sunday's debacle, the Arsenal fans might need more patience - for Birmingham deserved their win. Szczesny should have been sent off after only two minutes for a trip on Lee Bowyer as the Blues' midfielder bore down on goal; Szczesny was saved by the offside flag but replays indicated Bowyer was well onside when he collected Zigic's ball.

Birmingham continued to dominate with Bowyer and Craig Gardner looking lively and Zigic working hard up front.

It was the towering Serb who gave the Blues the lead on 28 minutes when the Gunners failed to deal with Sebastian Larsson's swinging corner. Koscielny and Johan Djourou both lost their men, allowing Roger Johnson to flick the ball towards Zigic, who glanced it past the hesitant Szczesny and into the Arsenal net.

Arsenal were level ten minutes later when Arshavin's clever cross was hooked past Ben Foster by Robin van Persie, who injured his knee in the act of scoring and was replaced in the second half.

But van Persie's goal was the last time the Birmingham keeper would be beaten. Second half saves denied Samir Nasri and Nicklas Bendtner and kept the Blues in the game. Foster deserved his Man of the Match award and Arsenal fans deserved better from a side that lost their nerve.

"It is very hard to take," said Wenger later. "The players are disappointed but we have to pick ourselves up, that's what a team is about. It's a good opportunity to show our mental strength which I think is great."

As for the goal, Wenger refused to criticise his players. "A little misunderstanding had a great consequence on the game and both players are destroyed. I blame no-one," he said. "When these things happen late in the game there is no time to rectify it... You have to be positive because he (Szczesny) is a young boy. He has to pick himself up from that goal and hopefully he can do that."

On Wednesday Arsenal face Leyton Orient in their FA Cup Fifth Round replay and a week later they travel to Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League tie; defeats in those games and Arsenal will have only the Premier League with which to try and salvage their season. How Wenger must wish he'd opened his wallet last summer and bought a proven keeper and an experienced defender. ·