* Without Cesc Fabregas in the team Samir Nasri has scored nine goals in nine games this season; when both have been playing the Frenchman only has five goals in 20 appearances.
* Nikola Zigic has scored three goals in his past four league games for Birmingham.
* Alex McLeish's side have only lost once in their past seven matches in all competitions.
* Arsenal and Birmingham have both scored 13 goals on their way to the Carling Cup final. Defensively the Gunners have been much more solid, conceding only two goals to the Blues' eight.
* Three of the last six League Cup finals have gone to extra-time.
* Arsenal's fans may have waited what feels like an eternity to win another major trophy but their six-year wait is nothing compared to Birmingham's 48-year trophy drought. The last time the Blues won anything of note was back in 1963 when they beat city rivals Aston Villa to win the League Cup.
* Both sides have lost League Cup finals in the past decade, with the Blues losing to Liverpool on penalties back in 2001, while Arsenal lost 2-1 to Chelsea in 2007.
* Arsene Wenger has taken Arsenal to eight major finals during his time at Arsenal and he as a 50 per cent success rate, winning four and losing four.
* Sunday represents not only an important day in Birmingham's history but is also the birthday of club owner Carson Yeung. The Hong Kong businessman will hope his side give him a birthday present to remember.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal (4-3-3): Szczesny; Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Song, Wilshere, Nasri; Bendtner, Van Persie, Arshavin.
Birmingham (4-4-2): Foster; Carr, Johnson, Jiranek, Ridgewell; Hleb, Ferguson, Gardner, Larsson; Martins, Zigic.
Prediction
Cup finals are always tricky affairs to call, especially the League Cup final which has provided numerous shocks over over the past 20 years. And the injuries sustained by Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott in the Gunners' 1-0 win over Stoke in midweek has really clouded the issue of who is going to be victorious on Sunday afternoon.
But Arsene Wenger's Arsenal should still have the firepower to overcome Birmingham and end their near-six-year wait for a major trophy. Alex McLeish's side will not roll over lightly though and expect the Blues to be in contention in this final from the word go, but Arsenal, on Wembley's big pitch, should have enough quality to pick up the first major silverware of the season.
But Arsene Wenger's Arsenal should still have the firepower to overcome Birmingham and end their near-six-year wait for a major trophy. Alex McLeish's side will not roll over lightly though and expect the Blues to be in contention in this final from the word go, but Arsenal, on Wembley's big pitch, should have enough quality to pick up the first major silverware of the season.
Arsenal 2-1 Birmingham 
