Home / Football / Arsenal Hot Favourites To End Trophy Wait At Wembley

Arsenal v Birmingham Odds: Back Nasri to score first in the League Cup final betting

Arsenal take on Birmingham in the League Cup Final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon as both sides look to end very different trophy droughts. Arsenal have failed to win a trophy since 2006 and Birmingham's last silverware was in this competition in 1963. It is Arsenal who head in as favourites at odds of 1/2 with Paddy Power bookmakers this weekend, and the same bookmaker offers industry best prices of 3/1 for a draw and 6/1 for a surprise Birmingham win.

Arsene Wenger's side won the FA Cup back in 2005 and have yet to taste final glory since, while Birmingham were runners up in the League Cup final in 2001 when they were a Championship side. Nowadays the two sides are battling it out at very different ends of the Premier League as Arsenal go for a quadruple this season, whilst Birmingham look to avoid relegation.

It is not just in the league table that Arsenal have the edge as recent results between the two have seen the Gunners go unbeaten in the last eight fixtures. Samir Nasri is one man who particularly enjoys playing the Blues and at odds of 5/1 to be first goalscorer on Sunday with PaddyPower he is well worth a look. Especially when you consider he has scored three goals in three against Birmingham and has scored 15 goals this season, while Birmingham have conceded first in seven of their last nine League Cup matches.

Meanwhile, Nicklas Bendtner has six goals in his last seven League Cup appearances and could also provide some value as a 5/1 first scorer or as an anytime scorer at 7/5. However, the build up to the final has been marred by injuries to Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas, Lukasz Fabianski, Thomas Vermaelen and Emmanuel Frimpong.

We fancy Birmingham, who have only lost one in their last seven matches, will look to make it tough for Arsenal and it could be a decent punt to go for a half time draw and full time Arsenal win at odds of 10/3. Or even if you fancy it to go to extra time you could back Arsenal to win after 120 minutes at odds of 13/2 with Paddy Power.

It is an interesting statistic that six of Birmingham's last eight goals have come from set pieces so 6 foot 8 inch striker Nikola Zigic could come into play on Sunday. The beanpole striker has scored seven goals this term after struggling to adapt to English football and has two goals from two starts in the League Cup, and at odds of 10/3 to score anytime with PaddyPower.com he is well worth a look.

Ultimately Arsenal look good to end their six year quest for silverware this Sunday and they can be backed in the handicap market with a handicap of -1 goal at odds of 7/5. The 3-1 scoreline catches the eye and is priced temptingly at 11/1 by Paddy Power as the extra class of Arsenal could tell on the hallowed turf of Wembley.

Arsenal v Birmingham Form

Check the season's statistics for both Arsenal and Birmingham plus the odds ahead of Sunday's Cup Final match.

Arsenal Stats | Birmingham Stats

Arsenal v Birmingham Tips

Tip #1: Samir Nasri to score first @ 5/1 with PaddyPower.com
Tip #2: Double result of a half time draw and full time Arsenal win @ 10/3 with PaddyPower.com
Tip #3: Nikola Zigic to score anytime @ 10/3 with PaddyPower.com

Arsenal v Birmingham Odds

Match Betting

1/2 Arsenal
3/1 Draw
6/1 Birmingham

Correct Score Odds

6/1 Arsenal 1-0
6/1 Arsenal 2-0
7/1 Arsenal 2-1
10/1 Draw 0-0
6/1 Draw 1-1
13/1 Draw 2-2
16/1 Birmingham 1-0
35/1 Birmingham 2-0
18/1 Birmingham 2-1

First Goalscorer Odds

3/1 Robin Van Persie
5/1 Marouane Chamakh
5/1 Nicklas Bendtner
5/1 Samir Nasri
11/2 Cesc Fabregas
6/1 Andrei Arshavin
15/2 Obafemi Martins
9/1 No Goalscorer
10/1 Abou Diaby
10/1 Tomas Rosicky
11/1 Cameron Jerome

Odds supplied by PaddyPower.com, plus over 100 other betting markets for the League Cup Final on Sunday, including live betting in-running.

Posted: Friday, 25th February 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: carling cup, arsenal, birmingham city, samir nasri, paddypower,

10 Latest Football Articles

	Euro 2012 Top Goalscorer Betting Preview Mario Gomez favourite to land Golden Boot Robin Van Persie In The Mix At The Head Of The Betting	22nd May
	Andre Villas Boas eased out in the latest Liverpool manager betting Roberto Martinez Firms Up As An Evens Favourite	22nd May
	Barcelona head the betting for the 2013 Champions League Defending Champions Chelsea Only Fifth Favourites	21st May
	Di Matteo hot favourite in the next Chelsea manager betting after Champions League win Fabio Capello Second Favourite To Take Over At Stamford Bridge	21st May
	West Ham odds on to stay up on return to the Premier League next season Hammers Short Priced For A Bottom Half Finish Though	21st May
	West Ham v Blackpool Odds Ian Holloways team could upset the Wembley betting Carlton Cole Favourite To Sore First In Play Off Final	17th May
	Chelsea v Bayern Munich Odds Blues underdogs in the Champions League final betting Arjen Robben A Tempting Bet To Score Against His Old Club	17th May
	Torquay v Cheltenham Betting Back a draw in the play off second leg Cheltenham Odds On To Qualify For Final At Wembley	16th May
	Roy Hodgson announces his England squad for Euro 2012 Rio Ferdinand Out But John Terry Included In 23 Man Squad	16th May
	Benitez and Martinez battle for favouritism in the next Liverpool manager betting Jose Mourinho An Interesting Outside Punt For Anfield Job	16th May

Archive - Previous 5 Football Articles

	Wigan V Man Utd Odds Rooney Heads The Betting To Score First At The DW Stadium England striker has scored nine in his last twelve against Wigan	25th Feb
	West Ham V Liverpool Betting Back Suarez To Score First In A Reds Win At Upton Park Thomas Hitzlperger tempting odds to score anytime	25th Feb
	Liverpool V Sparta Prague Betting Reds Can Win To Nil In Second Leg At Anfield Liverpool hot favourites to win last 32 clash after first leg stalemate	23rd Feb
	Man City V Aris Salonika Betting Patrick Vieira Could Provide Value As An Anytime Goalscorer City odds on to secure progress to the last sixteen at Eastlands	23rd Feb
	Sporting Lisbon V Rangers Betting Helder Postiga Favourite To Score First And End Scottish Hopes Lisbon favourites in Portugal after grabbing late away goal in the first leg	23rd Feb

Headline News

	Euro 2012 Top Goalscorer Betting Preview Mario Gomez Favourite To Land Golden Boot Robin Van Persie In The Mix At The Head Of The Betting
	Bonfire Clipped In The Latest Epsom Derby Betting Following Key Trial Win 2000 Guineas Winner Camelot Remains Favourite
	Andre Villas Boas Eased Out In The Latest Liverpool Manager Betting Roberto Martinez Firms Up As An Evens Favourite
	West Ham Odds On To Stay Up On Return To The Premier League Next Season Hammers Short Priced For A Bottom Half Finish Though
	Russian Grannies Lead Eurovision Semi Final Odds Jedward Ready For Battle

£250 Free Bet - Paddypower

BRAND NEW £250 free bets offer.

Open a new account with Paddy Power and place an initial bet of between £10 and £50
Paddy Power will match this with a free bet to the same stake
Paddy Power then let you repeat this a further four times to allow you to claim a maximum of £250 in free bets.

Open Account - Free £250 Bets With Paddypower