Last-gasp Martins sinks Arsenal

Birmingham City's Obafemi Martins (R) celebrates with teammate Lee Bowyer after scoring the winner during Monday morning's Carling Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Martins pounced in the 90th minute after a dreadful mix-up between Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny gifted a chance to the Blues' Nigerian striker.

The last-gasp winner was no less than Birmingham deserved after a gutsy performance at Wembley that saw them make a nonsense of Arsenal's pre-match status as heavy favourites.

But it was a disastrous result for Arsenal, who had been desperate to lift some silverware this year for the first time since their 2005 FA Cup final win over Manchester United.

Birmingham - for whom it was only the second ever major trophy in their history with the previous one the 1963 League Cup - had taken the lead in the 28th minute, when a rare foray into Arsenal territory resulted in a corner met by defender Roger Johnson.

The centre-half's header found striker Nikola Zigic on the edge of the six-yard box and the tall Serbian striker easily outjumped his marker to guide a back-header into the Arsenal net.

Zigic should have put Birmingham two goals up when he again found himself clear on goal, only for Szczesny to pull off a point-blank block with his legs.

And on 39 minutes Birmingham were made to pay for their profligacy when Arsenal grabbed an equaliser.

A thunderous shot from the edge of the area by Jack Wilshere cannoned back off the crossbar, and when Birmingham failed to clear, Andrey Arshavin jinked down the right flank and whipped in a low cross for van Persie, who twisted his body into position superbly to volley home.

Birmingham refused to be cowed however, and the introduction of Jean Beausejour for Craig Gardner gave their attack a fresh outlet.

Beausejour was involved in the build-up on 57 minutes when Keith Fahey lashed a shot against the foot of the post with Szczesny well beaten.

With extra-time looming, Arsenal stepped up the pace and tested Foster twice in quick succession.

But just as the Gunners turned the screw, Birmingham struck the killer blow. A long goalkick by Foster was met by Zigic and when Koscielny and Szczesny bungled the clearance, Martins was on hand to jab home.