Filed under: Arsenal, Birmingham, Carling Cup, Premier League, Football
Mike Dean's final whistle at Wembley made it 2,109 days and counting. Not the longest time between trophies - Birmingham City will attest to that - but the manner of Arsenal's Carling Cup final defeat only added to the pressure associated with the club extended wait for success.A sense of expectation enveloped Arsenal before the game, no matter how often Arsene Wenger and his players attempted to downplay suggestions that victory was a foregone conclusion.
This was a final that was supposed to recast Wenger's team as a group of mature, hungry professionals, marked by a ruthless streak to go with their undoubted talent.
The manner of their comeback against Barcelona had confirmed the squad has spirit, but there have been wobbles this season and Wembley was to witness another.
Wenger acknowledged after the game he now faces a major task as he attempts to lift his crestfallen players but insisted they would recover. "I'm confident we are strong enough mentally to come back and win things this season," he said.
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