2007 Football League Cup Final

Event	Football League Cup 2006–07
Chelsea Arsenal 2 1
Date	25 February 2007
Venue	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee	Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)
Attendance	70,073
← 2006 2008 →

The 2007 Carling Cup Final was played on Sunday, 25 February 2007 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.^[1] It was contested between Arsenal and Chelsea, making it the first all-London final in the competition's history; the two sides had previously met in Cardiff for the 2002 FA Cup Final. The game ended 2–1, with Chelsea winning.^[1] Theo Walcott scored the opening goal, his first for Arsenal,^[1] while Didier Drogba scored both of Chelsea's goals to seal his side's victory.^[1] Drogba's goals were his 27th and 28th of that season, a record for him in English football.

[edit] Pre-match

Due to train delays caused by a "major signal failure", about 2,000 fans were late for the kick off of the match.^[2] This led to many fans asking for the game to be delayed.^[3] Network Rail later apologised for the delay.^[4]

[edit] Match incidents

A record seven minutes of stoppage time were added to the match due to the injury suffered by Chelsea captain John Terry when he was kicked in the jaw by midfielder Abou Diaby in the second half.^[1] Terry had attempted to head the ball and Diaby's foot happened to kick him as the latter was attempting to clear the ball. The Chelsea defender was immediately stretchered off unconscious and taken to the hospital, but later discharged himself and returned to the stadium to celebrate with his teammates.^[5] Stoppage time was extended by an extra five minutes following a fracas that resulted in Arsenal captain Kolo Touré and striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel being sent off for violent conduct and Frank Lampard and Cesc Fàbregas shown yellow cards for unsporting behaviour.^[1] The full-time whistle eventually blew in the 103rd minute of play.

Chelsea celebrate their victory

After the initial bookings of Touré and Mikel, referee Howard Webb consulted with an assistant referee, and Adebayor was sent off, allegedly over striking Wayne Bridge. Adebayor was irate and had to be calmed down as he was escorted off the field by fellow striker Thierry Henry, who was not chosen for the match because he had not participated in the Carling Cup run. After the game, Bridge told reporters that he had been punched by Emmanuel Eboué — not Adebayor, whom he suspected to be a victim of mistaken identity.^[6] The next day Arsenal and Chelsea submitted claims for wrongful dismissal of Adebayor and Mikel, respectively, to the FA.^[7] The FA denied both appeals, also stating that Adebayor's claim "was not a claim for mistaken identity."^[8] The FA statement charged Arsenal and Chelsea misconduct concerning their inability to control their players.^[9] As a result Eboué was charged with violent conduct for striking Bridge; Adebayor was charged for his behaviour after being sent off.^[9] The recipients of these charges may have their case heard by a Disciplinary Commission.

Terry's injury and Touré's sending off meant that neither side's captain finished the game. After each player had left the field the captains' armbands were given to Lampard and Fàbregas respectively.

It was the last League Cup final to be played in Cardiff, before the opening of the new Wembley Stadium (the final's traditional venue). It was also the only League Cup Final to be played at the Millennium Stadium with the roof open.

The match was also interrupted by incidents of Chelsea fans throwing celery in the direction Arsenal players.^[10] Thowing celery on the pitch is a club tradition among Chelsea supporters. The violence and sendings off on the pitch led to some media outlets dubbing the match as the "Snarling Cup Final".^[11]

[edit] Match details

25 February 2007 15:00	Chelsea	2 – 1	Arsenal	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 70,073 Referee: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)
	Drogba  20', 84'	(Report)	Walcott  12'

Chelsea

Arsenal

CHELSEA: GK 1 Petr Čech RB 19 Lassana Diarra 52' CB 26 John Terry (c) 63' CB 6 Ricardo Carvalho 49' LB 18 Wayne Bridge DM 4 Claude Makélélé 45' CM 8 Frank Lampard 90+6' CM 13 Michael Ballack CM 5 Michael Essien 36' CF 7 Andriy Shevchenko 90+9' CF 11 Didier Drogba Substitutes: GK 40 Henrique Hilário DF 3 Ashley Cole MF 12 Mikel John Obi  90+6' 63' MF 16 Arjen Robben 45' FW 21 Salomon Kalou 90+9' Manager: José Mourinho

ARSENAL: GK 24 Manuel Almunia RB 31 Justin Hoyte CB 5 Kolo Touré (c)  90+6' CB 6 Philippe Senderos LB 45 Armand Traoré 66' RM 32 Theo Walcott CM 4 Cesc Fàbregas 90+6' CM 15 Denílson 29' LM 2 Abou Diaby 68' CF 30 Jérémie Aliadière 80' CF 9 Júlio Baptista Substitutes: GK 21 Mart Poom DF 20 Johan Djourou DF 27 Emmanuel Eboué 88' 66' MF 13 Aliaksandr Hleb 68' FW 25 Emmanuel Adebayor  90+6' 80' Manager: Arsène Wenger

[edit] Road to Cardiff

[edit] Chelsea

[edit] Arsenal

[edit] References