Arsene Wenger admitted in the aftermath of Arsenal’s dramatic, last-gasp Carling Cup final reverse against Birmingham on Sunday that some of his players were “destroyed” by the nature of the 2-1 defeat. However, the Gunners can still enjoy what would surely rank as their finest-ever season if they managed to win an amazing treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles (100/1).
It’s a big ask, of course, but will the Wembley defeat re-focus Arsenal as they chase that elusive first trophy since 2005, or will it end up destroying their campaign completely?
Plenty of teams, including Arsenal themselves, have, in the past, benefited from a triumphant League Cup victory that has propelled them onto even greater achievements in the rest of the season but the question Gunners fans – and Wenger himself – will be asking in is can they now use the crushing late defeat as a catalyst and platform to ensure they do not experience more misery in a season that has promised so much for so long. Such is Arsenal’s recent record of choking in the latter stages of competitions that they are now odds on with Totesport at 8/11 to end the campaign without silverware.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though.
Next up for the north Londoners is an FA Cup fifth-round replay against League One Leyton Orient (Arsenal 15/8 to win FA Cup) after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road just over a week ago. Nothing other than a home win on Wednesday will do as the Gunners set about appeasing fans who must be questioning how such a talented bunch of players continue to fall flat on their faces when it matters most. In fact, a handsome victory will be demanded at the Emirates and, a 4-0 rout on offer at 7/1 looks well worth a bet.
The stunning come-from-behind win over Barcelona in the first leg of their European last-16 tie at the Emirates earlier this month has ensured they head to the Nou Camp with a 2-1 lead and, while many are predicting Barca to overcome that, Wenger will be doing all he can to make amends for last year’s 4-1 defeat there and book a place in the quarter-finals. If there is one spectacular way to get over their Wembley heartache then success over the Catalans would be it.
The Premier League title race resumes with a clash at home against Sunderland on Saturday. Wenger will be hoping Chelsea do his side a huge favour by taking something off Manchester United on Tuesday, while United then go to Liverpool on Sunday. The Gunners boss must believe they are two games that the leaders can drop points in and, if they do, it will probably be the Gunners who profit the most. Certainly if Wenger’s men can go on to lift the title at the end of the season (7/4, United 1/2f) then a defeat in late February in the Carling Cup final will seem like little more than an irritation.
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