Haahahaha... Good one, Kolo

I love the Carling Cup.

I've said it before, this competition have proven vital to Arsene Wenger in giving our youth phenoms an opportunity to prove their worth to the club and a chance to push into the first team.

Over recent years we've seen the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Johan Djourou and Gael Clichy make their names in this competition. And once again, the Cup has given a lifeline this year to the once forgotten Jeremie Aliaidiere and has offered a platform for the likes of Denilson and Armand Traore to shine.

The club never gets an easy ride in this competition. We always seem to be facing Premiership competition with kids in this Cup and so it proved this year, with Arsenal's kids having to initially navigate through tough away fixtures at West Brom (0-2), Everton (0-1), and Liverpool (3-6) and then a bloodied two legged semi-final against our friends down the road (2-2 and 3-1).

And with Chelsea in the final, things are certainly not getting any easier. The chavs tend to play their best side throughout the competition. Given the fact they have no youth prospects to speak (highly) of, I suppose you can see their point.

The mind wanders to Traore marking Robben and to a Senderos tussle with Drogba and to all of the little stories that surround this match featuring Moaninho, Baptista, Wenger, Ashley Cole... etc etc.

But let's have faith. Our kids can win this. And in doing so because the youngest team ever to win a domestic cup final (by over 2 years on average).

C'mon the ARSENAL!

ARSENAL 3 (Baptista Gilberto Walcott)
CHELSEA 1 (Cole)

PREDICTED LINE UP

GK
Almunia

LB
Clichy (Late fitness test)
or Traore

RB
Hoyte (Late fitness test)
Djourou

CB
Toure
Senderos/Djourou

ML
Denilson

MC
Gilberto (C)
Fabregas

MR
Walcott

ST
Baptista
Aliadiere

Bench
Poom, Rosicky, Diaby, Adebayor, Senderos/Djourou