View source for 2007 Football League Cup final

{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox football match
|              title = 2007 Football League Cup Final
|              image = 2007 Football League Cup Final programme.jpg
|            caption = The [[Football programme|match programme]] cover
|              event = [[2006–07 Football League Cup]]
|              team1 = [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
|         team1score = 2
|              team2 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
|         team2score = 1
|               date = 25 February 2007
|            stadium = [[Millennium Stadium]]
|               city = [[Cardiff]]
|            referee = [[Howard Webb]] ([[South Yorkshire]])
| man_of_the_match1a = [[Didier Drogba]] (Chelsea)<ref name="Man of match"/>
|         attendance = 70,073
|            weather = Mostly cloudy<br />{{convert|8|°C|°F}}<ref>{{cite web|title=History for Cardiff-Wales, United Kingdom|url=http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/EGFF/2007/2/25/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA|publisher=[[Weather Underground (weather service)|Weather Underground]]|access-date=22 March 2011}}</ref>
|           previous = [[2006 Football League Cup Final|2006]]
|               next = [[2008 Football League Cup Final|2008]]
}}
The '''2007 Football League Cup Final''' was a [[association football|football]] match between [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] on 25 February 2007 at the [[Millennium Stadium]], Cardiff. It was the final match of the [[2006–07 Football League Cup|2006–07 staging]] of the [[Football League Cup]], and last to be staged at the Millennium Stadium. Chelsea were making their fifth League Cup final appearance to Arsenal's sixth.

Each club needed to get past four rounds to reach the final. Chelsea made comfortable progress; they scored 12 goals while conceding only one to [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] in the semi-final. Arsenal fielded a relatively young team throughout the competition; their wins against fellow league opponents [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in the fifth-round and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in the semis were acclaimed by the British press. Chelsea entered the match as favourites and were undefeated against Arsenal in all competitions since 2004.

Watched by a crowd of 70,073, Arsenal took the lead in the 12th minute when [[Theo Walcott]] scored. Chelsea equalised moments later through [[Didier Drogba]], who also scored the match winner six minutes from the end of normal time. Midway through the second half, Chelsea captain [[John Terry]] was accidentally kicked in the face after attempting to score with a diving header; he played no further part in the match having sought medical attention. Stoppage time was extended because of the incident, at which point a fracas occurred between the Arsenal and Chelsea players. [[Kolo Touré]] and [[Emmanuel Adebayor]] were dismissed for their actions, together with Chelsea's [[Mikel John Obi]]. Play came to an end in the 102nd minute.

Chelsea manager [[José Mourinho]] was delighted with his team's win and credited his opponent's performance. He felt the brawl in stoppage time was born out of Arsenal's frustration after going behind in the match; he did not want either team to be punished. Arsenal manager [[Arsène Wenger]] apologised for his players' conduct and said he had no regrets over his team selection. Both finalists were fined [[Pound sterling|£]]100,000 each by [[The Football Association]] for their inability to control their players. [[Emmanuel Eboué]] was retrospectively banned for three matches as his punch on [[Wayne Bridge]] was missed by [[Howard Webb]]. Wenger was later found guilty of improper conduct and charged £2,500 for his comments about the linesman.

==Route to the final==
{{Main|2006–07 Football League Cup}}
The [[Football League Cup]] is a [[association football|football]] competition open to the 92 teams in the [[Premier League]] and the [[The Football League|Football League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About the Competition |url=http://www.capitalonecup.co.uk/competition/about-the-competition/ |publisher=Capital One Cup |access-date=10 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615155646/http://www.capitalonecup.co.uk/competition/about-the-competition/ |archive-date=15 June 2014 }}</ref>

===Chelsea===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right"
<!-- |+ '''Chelsea''' -->
!width="25" | Round
!width="150" | Opposition
!width="50" | Score
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 3rd
| [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] (a)
| 2–0
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 4th
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] (h)
| 4–0
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 5th
| [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] (a)
| 1–0
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center" rowspan="2" | Semi-final
| [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] (a)
| 1–1
|-
| Wycombe Wanderers (h)
| 4–0
|-
| colspan="3" style="background-color:white;"| <small>'''Key:''' (h) = Home venue; (a) = Away venue.</small>
|}

Chelsea entered the competition in the third round, as one of the eight teams from the [[Premier League]] involved in European competition during the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Carling Cup first round draw made |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/5098588.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=21 June 2006 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref> They were drawn against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]; the match took place at [[Ewood Park]]. A goal apiece from [[Joe Cole]] and [[Salomon Kalou]] ensured a 2–0 victory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blackburn 0–2 Chelsea |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6072594.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=25 October 2006 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref>

Chelsea's opponent in the fourth round were [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. The match was played at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]] on 8 November 2006. [[Frank Lampard]] opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 32nd minute; further goals by [[Andriy Shevchenko]], [[Michael Essien]] and [[Didier Drogba]] in the second half secured a 4–0 win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea 4–0 Aston Villa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6116396.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=8 November 2006 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref>

[[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] hosted Chelsea at [[St James' Park]] in the fifth round of the competition. The home team came close to scoring after the midway point of the first half; [[Obafemi Martins]]'s shot towards the Chelsea goal hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down, before the ball was cleared. In the 79th minute, Drogba – on as a substitute – scored the winning goal of the match, from a free-kick.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea underscore the fine line between success and failure again |first=George |last=Caulkin |page=84 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=21 December 2006}}</ref>

[[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] were Chelsea's opponent in the semi-final which was played over [[Two-legged tie|two-legs]]. The first leg was staged at Wycombe's home ground, [[Adams Park]]. A match preview in ''[[The Guardian]]'' noted the financial gap between the two sides: "Wycombe's most expensive player, [[Jermaine Easter]], cost £80,000; Chelsea's squad is valued at more than £300m."<ref>{{cite news |title=Wycombe won't dare to bare in cup upset |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jan/10/newsstory.wycombe |first=Stuart |last=James |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=10 January 2007 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref> In the game Wycombe started brightly, but the team were unable to convert their chances. Chelsea took the lead in the 36th minute when [[Wayne Bridge]] collected a pass from Kalou and chipped the ball over [[Ricardo Batista (footballer)|Ricardo Batista]], the Wycombe goalkeeper. Easter equalised for Wycombe with 13 minutes of the match remaining; neither side scored again and the match ended 1–1.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wycombe 1–1 Chelsea |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6236711.stm |first=Chris |last=Bevan |work=BBC Sport |date=10 January 2007 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref> The second leg at Stamford Bridge saw Chelsea start better of the two sides and two goals apiece from Shevchenko and Lampard meant they won 4–0 on the night, 5–1 on aggregate score to progress to the final.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shevchenko finds touch to set up all-London final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jan/24/match.chelsea |first=Simon |last=Burnton |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=24 January 2007 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref>

===Arsenal===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right"
<!-- |+ '''Arsenal''' -->
!width="25" | Round
!width="150" | Opposition
!width="50" | Score
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 3rd
| [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] (a)
| 2–0
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 4th
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] (a)
| 1–0
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 5th
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] (a)
| 6–3
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center" rowspan="2" | Semi-final
| [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] (a)
| 2–2
|-
| Tottenham Hotspur (h)
| 3–1
|-
| colspan="3" style="background-color:white;"| <small>'''Key:''' (h) = Home venue; (a) = Away venue.</small>
|}

Arsenal entered the competition in the third round as they participated in European football during the season. They faced [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] at 
[[The Hawthorns]], where striker [[Jérémie Aliadière]] scored twice to secure a 2–0 victory for the visitors.<ref>{{cite news |title=West Brom 0–2 Arsenal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6072672.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=24 October 2006 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref>

Arsenal travelled to [[Goodison Park]] in the fourth round of the competition to play [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]. They won the match 1–0 courtesy of a late [[Emmanuel Adebayor]] goal, which came from a corner. For much of the game Everton played with a man disadvantage as striker [[James McFadden]] was sent off in the 19th minute for dissent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Everton 0–1 Arsenal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6116408.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=8 November 2006 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Arsenal-Tottenham Carling Cup Second Leg End.ogv|left|thumb|Closing stages of Arsenal's second leg match against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium.]]
[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] were Arsenal's opponent in the fifth round. The match, scheduled on 19 December 2006 at [[Anfield]], was postponed by referee [[Martin Atkinson]] because of heavy fog.<ref>{{cite news |title=Benitez & Wenger rue postponement |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6195047.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2006 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref> Atkinson's decision infuriated the managers of both clubs, with [[Rafael Benítez]] commenting: "There were a lot of people looking forward to the game and it's really difficult to explain."<ref>{{cite news |title=Chaos looms through Anfield fog |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2352625/Chaos-looms-through-Anfield-fog.html |first=Tim |last=Rich |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=20 December 2006 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref> The tie was rescheduled for 9 January 2007 and on the night Arsenal took the lead when Aliadière scored in the 27th minute. [[Robbie Fowler]] equalised for Liverpool six minutes later. Later, two goals from [[Júlio Baptista]] and goal from [[Alex Song]] put Arsenal 4–1 ahead at half time. In the second half, Baptista completed his hat-trick; although [[Steven Gerrard]] and [[Sami Hyypiä]] scored to close the scoreline gap for Liverpool, Baptista added his fourth goal of the match in the 84th minute. The final score was 6–3, Liverpool's heaviest defeat at Anfield in 76 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baptista revels in Arsenal's extravaganza |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2305855/Baptista-revels-in-Arsenals-extravaganza.html |first=Henry |last=Winter |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=10 January 2007 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref> In his match report for ''The Guardian'', Daniel Taylor praised Arsenal's reserve team and summarised: "The difference between the two teams was immense. Arsenal played with flair and purpose; Liverpool were dishevelled and short of leadership."<ref>{{cite news |title=Baptista grabs four as Liverpool hit for six |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jan/10/match.arsenal |first=Daniel |last=Taylor |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=10 January 2007 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref>

[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] faced Arsenal in the semi-final which was played over two-legs. The first leg was at Tottenham's home ground, [[White Hart Lane]]. A goal from [[Dimitar Berbatov]] gave Tottenham the lead in the 12th minute and they extended their advantage after Baptista inadvertently kicked the ball into his own goal. Baptista, however, made amends in the second half, scoring twice in the space of 13 minutes to level the score at 2–2.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baptista at the double spikes Spurs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jan/25/match.arsenal |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=25 January 2007 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref> The second leg at the [[Emirates Stadium]] saw Arsenal take the lead in the 77th minute when Adebayor scored. [[Mido (footballer)|Mido]] equalised for Tottenham, which took the match into extra time because the [[away goals rule]] was not in use in the competition. Aliadière's goal in the 105th minute restored Arsenal's lead and an own goal scored by [[Pascal Chimbonda]] ensured the home team progressed to the final, winning 3–1 after extra time, and 5–3 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arsenal 3–1 Tottenham (agg 5–3) |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6305313.stm |first=Sam |last=Lyon |work=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2007 |access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref>

==Build-up==
Chelsea, the match favourites,<ref name=clock>{{cite news |title=Carling Cup final clockwatch |first=Saj |last=Chowdhury |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6392761.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2007 |access-date=25 February 2007}}</ref> were appearing in their fifth League Cup final; they had previously won the competition three times in [[1965 Football League Cup Final|1965]], [[1998 Football League Cup Final|1998]] and [[2005 Football League Cup Final|2005]], and lost one final in [[1972 Football League Cup Final|1972]]. By contrast Arsenal made their sixth League Cup final appearance; they had won two in [[1987 Football League Cup Final|1987]] and [[1993 Football League Cup Final|1993]] and lost three in [[1965 Football League Cup Final|1968]], [[1969 Football League Cup Final|1969]] and [[1988 Football League Cup Final|1988]].<ref>{{cite web|first=James |last=Ross |title=Football League Cup Finals |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engleagcuphist.html |publisher=Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) |date=20 March 2014 |access-date=6 July 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329230552/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engleagcuphist.html |archive-date=29 March 2016}}</ref> Both clubs had played each other in the League Cup four times, with Chelsea and Arsenal each winning on two occasions. Chelsea's biggest win against Arsenal in the competition was a 5–0 away win in November 1998.{{sfn|The Football League|p=6}} Prior to the match Arsenal's last win against Chelsea in all competitions came in February 2004.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea v Arsenal (Sun) |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6371613.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225093808/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6371613.stm |archive-date=25 February 2007 |work=BBC Sport |date=23 February 2007 |access-date=2 December 2014}}</ref>

The relationship between both clubs had become strained, not least because of Chelsea's financial advantage; the club was owned by billionaire [[Roman Abramovich]]. The day after Chelsea announced losses of £80&nbsp;million for 2005–06, Arsenal manager [[Arsène Wenger]] expressed concern over his opponent's conduct: "I have said many times that all the clubs should be balanced with their natural resources. That means they can only spend what they earn."<ref>{{cite news |title=Wenger says champions should not profit from losses |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/20/newsstory.sport6 |first=David |last=Ornstein |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=20 February 2007 |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref> Chelsea manager [[José Mourinho]] refused to respond to Wenger's comments in his [[UEFA Champions League]] pre-match press conference, but made reference to his record in the competition in contrast to his counterpart: "Many great managers in the world have never won it. The big example is not far from us; Arsène Wenger is a top manager in the world. He's a big manager in the world of football and he never did it so when I did it once, I can thank God for that. I have that."<ref>{{cite news |title=Mourinho turns up heat with Wenger dig |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2308081/Mourinho-turns-up-heat-with-Wenger-dig.html |first=John |last=Ley |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=21 February 2007 |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref>

{{Quote box|width=320px|bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |align=right|quote="You have singers in England going on ''The X Factor'' where talents are discovered which nobody knew about. I like it because people are brave enough to come out and they want to achieve something in their life. They are ready to be committed to do it. They have a target. People who turn up and are ready to fight for something, like our young players are, I like. It's the ''X Factor'' Academy!"|salign = left |source=[[Arsène Wenger]], February 2007<ref name="wenpr">{{cite news |title=Wenger enters great debate |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2308170/Wenger-enters-great-debate.html |first=John |last=Ley |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=23 February 2007 |access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref>}}

Wenger replied to Mourinho's comments by arguing that although plenty of managers have won the Champions League, most would not be considered greats – "What is important is that you look at their careers in 10, 15 or 20 years. What kind of quality have you brought through in your work and on how consistent a level have you done it?"<ref name="gudr">{{cite news |title=Nothing special about Mourinho, says Wenger |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/23/newsstory.sport3 |first=David |last=Ornstein |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=23 February 2007 |access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref>

Much was made of Arsenal's policy of using the League Cup to field youngsters. In order to explain his team selection, Wenger made an analogy between his youth players and hopefuls on ''[[The X Factor (UK TV series)|The X Factor]]'', a television programme he admired.<ref name="wenpr"/> He ruled out playing his more experienced players for the match: "We battled very hard to be in this final and it would be a reward for this team, which has risen up to every challenge."<ref name="gudr"/> Mourinho did not anticipate Arsenal would make a "crazy change" to their team: "Normally, they change players but keep their philosophy, their idea of football, their system."<ref>{{cite news |title=Hot Gunners certain to be on fire – Jose |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hot+Gunners+certain+to+be+on+fire+-+Jose.-a0159758337 |first=Harry |last=Noble |newspaper=Sunday Mercury |location=Birmingham |date=25 February 2007 |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref> He believed the final had the makings of a showpiece event as the competition was not a main target for both clubs; emotions therefore would not dictate matters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mourinho: It could be a cup final classic |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/410352/mourinho-predicts-classic-carling-cup-final |work=ESPN FC |date=23 February 2007 |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref>

Both clubs received an allocation of approximately 30,000 tickets. The competition sponsor [[Carling]] gave up its allocation; they instead invited 200 fans of Arsenal and Chelsea to be seated in their suite.<ref>{{cite news |title=Intoxicating mix hits the spot for clubs and sponsor |first=Nick |last=Szczepanik |page=91 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=27 February 2007}}</ref> Supporters of the four semi-final clubs were invited to participate in the "Carling Cabinet"; this gave them the opportunity to have their say about the matchday experience.{{sfn|The Football League|p=3}} Ticket prices for adults were priced £36, £48, £64 and £74, with concessions for juniors and seniors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carling Cup final tickets and travel |url=http://forums.cfcnet.co.uk/topic/23150-carling-cup-final-ticket-details/ |publisher=CFCnet |date=25 January 2007 |access-date=2 December 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064555/http://forums.cfcnet.co.uk/topic/23150-carling-cup-final-ticket-details/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> For every ticket sold, the Football League gave [[Pound sterling|£]]1 to [[Children in Need]]; the donation came at a total of £70,000.{{sfn|The Football League|p=3}}

Chelsea were expected to line up in a [[Formation (association football)#4–4–2|4–4–2]] formation, with Essien in central defence.{{sfn|The Football League|p=2}} They had doubts about the fitness of captain [[John Terry]] going into the final. He appeared to have damaged his ankle ligaments during the first leg of Chelsea's Champions League tie with [[FC Porto|Porto]], though passed a fitness test just days after.<ref>{{cite news |title=Terry back for Carling Cup final |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6384683.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2007 |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref> Arsenal were expected to line up in a similar formation, with Baptista and Aliadière up front.{{sfn|The Football League|p=2}}

Train delays caused by a "major signal failure" meant that on the day of the final over 2,000 spectators were late for kick-off.<ref>{{cite news |title=Train problems hold up 2,000 fans |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6394985.stm |work=BBC News |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=26 February 2007}}</ref> An accident on the [[M4 motorway]] trigged more chaos; this led to requests for the game to be delayed, but [[South Wales Police]] were confident they could get everyone seated in time.<ref name=clock/> [[Network Rail]] later apologised for the delay.<ref>{{cite news |title=Apology for football fans' delays |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6394985.stm |work=BBC News |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=26 February 2007}}</ref>

==Match==
Chelsea set up in a [[Formation (association football)#4.E2.80.931.E2.80.933.E2.80.932|4–1–3–2]] formation with Terry partnering [[Ricardo Carvalho]] in defence. [[Claude Makélélé]] played behind a midfield three made up of Lampard, Ballack and Essien. By contrast Arsenal lined up in a 4–4–2 formation; [[Abou Diaby]] and [[Theo Walcott]] were positioned either side of central midfielders [[Cesc Fàbregas]] and [[Denílson Pereira Neves|Denílson]] and provided width. Arsenal's starting line up – averaging 21 years – was the youngest to play in a major English cup final.<ref>{{cite news |title=Black and blue |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+BLACK+AND+BLUE%3B+CARLING+CUP+ARSENAL+1+CHELSEA+2+3+sent+off...-a0159774369 |first=Colin |last=Duncan |newspaper=Daily Record |location=Glasgow |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="ave">{{cite news |title=Wenger able to stomach defeat after a display of prodigious promise |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/26/newsstory.sport |first=Dominic |last=Fifield |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=8 July 2014}}</ref> Before the match commenced, the national anthem was sung by [[Juliette Pochin]].<ref name=clock/>

===Summary===
[[File:Chelsea Vs Arsenal - Carling Cup Final 25 Feb 2007.jpg|thumb|Pre-match presentation]]
Arsenal kicked off and started strongly, with Fàbregas dictating play in midfield.<ref name=clock/> Baptista came close to scoring in the seventh minute, but for his shot to be blocked by Terry.<ref name=clock/> Another shot of his three minutes later was saved by [[Petr Čech]], who tipped the ball over the crossbar. This resulted in an Arsenal corner, which Drogba cleared.<ref name=gucl>{{cite news |title=Minute-by-minute report |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/25/newsstory.sport |first=Paul |last=Doyle |work=The Guardian|date=25 February 2014 |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref> Walcott immediately collected the ball, passed it to Diaby before receiving it once more in the Chelsea penalty box. He sidefooted the ball past Čech and into the Chelsea goal to give Arsenal a 1–0 lead; it was his first goal for the club.<ref name=gucl/><ref>{{cite news |title=Top Five: Theo Walcott moments |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/5295670/Top-Five-Theo-Walcott-moments.html |first=Emily |last=Benammar |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=8 May 2009 |access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref> Arsenal's tempo and the speed in which they passed the ball continued to cause Chelsea problems. Walcott in the 14th minute used his pace to get the better of defenders Bridge and Carvalho and crossed the ball to Baptista, who lost his footing.<ref name=gucl/>

Chelsea created their first chance of the match after 18 minutes – a shot from Lampard which hit [[Kolo Touré]].<ref name=gucl/> They fought back to equalise two minutes later. Ballack launched the ball to Drogba on the right-hand side of Arsenal's penalty area. Diverting his markers who attempted to set the offside trap, Drogba took the ball and shot it past [[Manuel Almunia]]'s goal to score.<ref name=clock/> The equaliser led to Chelsea asserting themselves in the match as the team began to build up possession. Denílson, at the midway point of the half, received the game's first yellow card for a foul on Essien; the Chelsea midfielder was later booked for a tackle on Baptista.<ref name=gucl/> Sticks of celery were thrown at Fàbregas before he took a corner close to stoppage time; targeting opponents with the vegetable was a Chelsea supporter's ritual going back more than two decades and originated from song.<ref name=gucl/><ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea fans captured on canvas |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6667839.stm |first=John |last=Sinnott |work=BBC Sport |date=18 May 2007 |access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref>

Chelsea made an attacking substitution before the start of the second half; [[Arjen Robben]] came on for Makélélé.<ref name=clock/> He made an immediate impact, running past the Arsenal defence in the 48th minute, but his pass failed to reach Shevchenko.<ref name=clock/> Soon after Carvalho was booked for a foul on Aliadière and conceded a free-kick at the edge of Chelsea's penalty box, though nothing came out of it.<ref name=gucl/> Both teams continued to fashion chances – a well worked move by Arsenal finished with Fàbregas's shooting low past Čech in goal, while Chelsea's Robben from 20 yards curled the ball wide.<ref name=gucl/> [[Lassana Diarra]] was shown a yellow card in the 52nd minute for his challenge on Diaby; the Arsenal midfielder managed to get past Ballack and Lampard before he was "deliberately bowled over" by his opponent.<ref name=gucl/> Robben earned Chelsea a corner moments after; from it, Terry attempted a diving header and Diaby, in an attempt to clear, ended up kicking the Chelsea captain, thus knocking him out.<ref name=clock/> After receiving medical attention Terry was immediately stretchered off and taken to the hospital; he was replaced by [[Mikel John Obi]] and Essien was moved to centre back.<ref name=clock/>
[[File:Chelsea v Arsenal - Carling Cup - 25-02-07 (403745490).jpg|thumb|left|Fracas between the Arsenal and Chelsea players]]
The period immediately after Terry's substitution saw few clear-cut chances, with Walcott and Drogba barely testing their respective keepers.<ref name=gucl/> Arsenal made two substitutions in a three-minute spell – [[Armand Traoré]] for [[Emmanuel Eboué]] and [[Alexander Hleb]] replacing the injured Diaby. In the 74th minute a shot by Lampard from 25 yards hit Almunia's crossbar. Arsenal responded with a flowing move from left to right, which resulted in a corner. Chelsea cleared and countered, forcing Almunia to save.<ref name=gucl/> Arsenal made their final substitution in the 80th minute, replacing Aliadière with Adebayor.<ref name=gucl/> With six minutes remaining of the 90, Chelsea scored the winning goal of the match. Arsenal gave away possession to Essien in midfield, who passed the ball to Robben wide on the left. He crossed the ball into the Arsenal penalty area, which reached the head of Drogba; the striker headed it in past Almunia.<ref name=clock/>

Shevchenko came close to scoring Chelsea's third goal of the match, but his effort hit the crossbar.<ref name=clock/> Seven minutes of [[stoppage time]] were added to the match due to Terry's injury.<ref name=gucl/> A tussle between Touré and Mikel over shirt pulling resulted in a fracas between both sets of players. Both managers came onto the pitch in order to calm matters.<ref name=gucl/> Referee [[Howard Webb]] decided to send off Touré and Mikel for violent conduct and consulted with an assistant referee, before sending off Adebayor, who was alleged to have struck Bridge.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wenger: Adebayor is innocent |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/2406825/wenger-adebayor-is-innocent |publisher=Sky Sports |first=Phil |last=Jackson |date=3 March 2007 |access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref> Adebayor was irate and needed to be escorted off the field by Arsenal officials.<ref name=gucl/> The match restarted, by which point Kalou came on for Shevchenko.<ref name=gucl/>

No further goals were scored and the full-time whistle eventually blew in the 102nd minute of play.<ref>{{cite news |title=All the action blow by blow |first=Bill |last=Edgar |page=84 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=26 February 2007}}</ref> Terry who was admitted to hospital later discharged himself and returned to the stadium to celebrate with his teammates.<ref>{{cite news |title=Terry recovers after head injury |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6395301.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2007 |access-date=25 February 2007}}</ref>

===Details===
{{football box
|date=25 February 2007
|time=15:00 [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
|team1=[[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
|score=2–1
|team2=[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
|report=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070307140449/http://www.carlingcup.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C11995~987309%2C00.html Report]
|goals1=[[Didier Drogba|Drogba]] {{goal|20||84}}
|goals2=[[Theo Walcott|Walcott]] {{goal|12}}
|stadium=[[Millennium Stadium]], [[Cardiff]]
|attendance=70,073
|referee=[[Howard Webb]] ([[Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association|South Yorkshire]]) }}

{| width=92%
|-
|{{Football kit
 | pattern_la = _chelsea0608h
 | pattern_b  = _chelsea_07
 | pattern_ra = _chelsea0608h
 | pattern_sh = _chelsea0608h
 | pattern_so = _3_stripes_white
 | leftarm    = 0000FF
 | body       = 0000FF
 | rightarm   = 0000FF
 | shorts     = 0000FF
 | socks      = 0000FF
 | title      = Chelsea
}}
|{{Football kit
 | pattern_la = _arsenal0608h
 | pattern_b  = _arsenalh0608
 | pattern_ra = _arsenal0608h
 | pattern_so = _redtop
 | leftarm    = FFFFFF
 | body       = FF0000
 | rightarm   = FFFFFF
 | shorts     = FFFFFF
 | socks      = FFFFFF
 | title      = Arsenal
}}
|}

{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="40%"|
{| style="font-size:90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width=25| !!width=25|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Petr Čech]]
|-
|RB ||'''19'''||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Lassana Diarra]] || {{yel|52}}
|-
|CB ||'''26'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Terry]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]]) || || {{suboff|63}}
|-
|CB ||'''6''' ||{{flagicon|POR}} [[Ricardo Carvalho]] || {{yel|49}}
|-
|LB ||'''18'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Wayne Bridge]]
|-
|DM ||'''4''' ||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Claude Makélélé]] || || {{suboff|45}}
|-
|CM ||'''8''' ||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Frank Lampard]] || {{yel|90+6}}
|-
|CM ||'''13'''||{{flagicon|GER}} [[Michael Ballack]]
|-
|CM ||'''5''' ||{{flagicon|GHA}} [[Michael Essien]] || {{yel|36}}
|-
|CF ||'''7''' ||{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Andriy Shevchenko]] || || {{suboff|90+9}}
|-
|CF ||'''11'''||{{flagicon|CIV}} [[Didier Drogba]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutes:'''
|-
|GK ||'''40'''||{{flagicon|POR}} [[Henrique Hilário|Hilário]]
|-
|DF ||'''3''' ||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ashley Cole]]
|-
|MF ||'''12'''||{{flagicon|NGA}} [[Mikel John Obi]] || {{sent off|0|90+6}}&nbsp; || {{subon|63}}
|-
|MF ||'''16'''||{{flagicon|NED}} [[Arjen Robben]] || || {{subon|45}}
|-
|FW ||'''21'''||{{flagicon|CIV}} [[Salomon Kalou]] || || {{subon|90+9}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{flagicon|POR}} [[José Mourinho]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:Chelsea vs Arsenal 2007-02-25.svg|300px]]
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%; margin: auto;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width=25| !!width=25|
|-
|GK ||'''24'''||{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Manuel Almunia]]
|-
|RB ||'''31'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Justin Hoyte]]
|-
|CB ||'''5''' ||{{flagicon|CIV}} [[Kolo Touré]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]]) || {{sent off|0|90+6}}
|-
|CB ||'''6''' ||{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Philippe Senderos]]
|-
|LB ||'''45'''||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Armand Traoré]] || || {{suboff|66}}
|-
|RM ||'''32'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Theo Walcott]]
|-
|CM ||'''4''' ||{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Cesc Fàbregas]] || {{yel|90+6}}
|-
|CM ||'''15'''||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Denílson Pereira Neves|Denílson]] || {{yel|29}}
|-
|LM ||'''2''' ||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Abou Diaby]] || || {{suboff|68}}
|-
|CF ||'''30'''||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jérémie Aliadière]] || || {{suboff|80}}
|-
|CF ||'''9''' ||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Júlio Baptista]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutes:'''
|-
|GK ||'''21'''||{{flagicon|EST}} [[Mart Poom]]
|-
|DF ||'''20'''||{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Johan Djourou]]
|-
|DF ||'''27'''||{{flagicon|CIV}} [[Emmanuel Eboué]] || {{yel|88}} || {{subon|66}}
|-
|MF ||'''13'''||{{flagicon|BLR|1995}} [[Alexander Hleb]] || || {{subon|68}}
|-
|FW ||'''25'''||{{flagicon|TOG}} [[Emmanuel Adebayor]]&nbsp; || {{sent off|0|90+6}}&nbsp; || {{subon|80}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Arsène Wenger]]
|}
|}

{| style="width:100%; font-size:90%;"
|
'''Match officials'''{{sfn|The Football League|p=6}}
*Assistant referees:
**Darren Cann
**Dave Babski 
*Fourth official: [[Lee Probert]] ([[Wiltshire Football Association|Wiltshire]])

'''Man of the match'''
*[[Didier Drogba]] (Chelsea)<ref name="Man of match">{{cite web|title=Alan Hardaker Trophy Winners |url=http://www.capitalonecup.co.uk/competition/the-alan-hardaker-award/ |publisher=The Football League |date=9 August 2012 |access-date=2 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319075350/http://www.capitalonecup.co.uk/competition/the-alan-hardaker-award/ |archive-date=19 March 2015}}</ref>
|style="width:60%; vertical-align:top"|
'''Match rules'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Carling Cup rules 2006–07 |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/a6/91/0,,10794~37286,00.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715002157/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/a6/91/0%2C%2C10794~37286%2C00.pdf|publisher=The Football League |archive-date=15 July 2014 |access-date=6 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*90 minutes.
*30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
*Penalty shootout if scores still level.
*Five named substitutes.
*Maximum of three substitutions.
|}

===Statistics===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col" |Statistic<ref>{{cite news |title=Beauty and the Beasts |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3a+BEAUTY+AND+THE+BEASTS%3b+CARLING+CUP+FINAL%2c+2007+CHELSEA+2...-a0159773702 |first=Martin |last=Lipton |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:70px"| Chelsea
! scope="col" style="width:70px;"| Arsenal
|-
!scope=row|Goals scored
| 2
| 1
|-
!scope=row|Possession
| 49%
| 51%
|-
!scope=row|Shots on target
| 3
| 6
|-
!scope=row|Shots off target
| 6
| 4
|-
!scope=row|Corner kicks
| 2
| 6
|-
!scope=row|Offsides
| 9
| 1
|-
!scope=row|Yellow cards
| 4
| 3
|-
!scope=row|Red cards
| 1
| 2
|}

==Post-match and aftermath==
[[File:Chelseawincarlingcup.jpg|thumb|The Chelsea players celebrating their victory]]
Chelsea's victory meant they won the trophy for the sixth time. Mourinho was delighted to have won the League Cup and felt his team deserved to win on balance of play. He credited his opponents, with a sly dig: "A special word for them – they played very good. They have a great coach, great players – but football is about winning and the cup goes to us."<ref>{{cite news |title=Mourinho praises Arsenal youngsters |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/soccer/mourinho-praises-arsenal-youngsters-299612.html |work=BreakingNews.ie |date=25 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> He was disappointed by the fracas and pointed out it was born out of Arsenal's frustration, though stressed "We cannot kill a player because something happened."<ref>{{cite news |title=Mourinho and Wenger join the fray in final of three red cards |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/26/newsstory.carlingcup0607 |first=Matt |last=Scott |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=8 July 2014}}</ref> Mourinho took time out to praise Arsenal's medical staff for attending to Terry after his concussion and absolved Diaby from any fault.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea's past scares made Mourinho fear for Terry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/26/newsstory.sport1 |first=Matt |last=Scott |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=8 July 2014}}</ref>

Lampard described his teammate Drogba as “…special, he's the best in the world at the moment. He does it week in, week out and on the big occasions." He argued the brawl near the end of the match highlighted how much the players from both sides wanted to win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cup final brawl upsets Mourinho |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6394515.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> Defender [[Ashley Cole]], who left Arsenal in acrimonious terms to join Chelsea felt his decision to move was vindicated: "I'm enjoying life, the manager's good and after six or seven months here I've already won a medal. That's why I came here."<ref>{{cite news |title=Cole: I feel a part of it now |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/2407074/cole-i-feel-a-part-of-it-now |publisher=Sky Sports |first=Carla |last=Hilton |date=3 March 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref>

Wenger apologised for his team's behaviour: "I feel we should not have reacted at all. Overall we are sorry for what happened. When you do not behave like you want to, then you have to apologise."<ref name="wen">{{cite news |title=Wenger says sorry for Arsenal's part in cup final brawl |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/28/newsstory.sport1 |first=Marc |last=Isaacs |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=28 February 2007 |access-date=8 July 2014}}</ref> He had no regrets over his team selection and suggested it was part of the player's learning process.<ref name="ave"/> Wenger said of Walcott: "…he had a very good performance and scored a great goal. That is good for us and good news for England."<ref>{{cite news |title=Wenger impressed with Walcott |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/2406492/wenger-impressed-with-walcott |publisher=Sky Sports |first=Alex |last=Livie |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> [[Gilberto Silva]] described Arsenal's defeat as a "sad memory" and wanted to use the loss to motivate the team for their coming matches.<ref name="wen"/>

The day after the final Arsenal and Chelsea submitted claims for [[wrongful dismissal]] of Adebayor and Mikel, respectively, to [[The Football Association]] (FA).<ref>{{cite web |title=Wrongful dismissal claims |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/02/Claims26Feb.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080621190841/http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/02/Claims26Feb.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2008 |publisher=The Football Association |date=27 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014 }}</ref> The FA denied both appeals and clarified their penalties.<ref>{{cite web |title=Claims rejected |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/02/AdebayorMikelrejected.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080514004038/http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/02/AdebayorMikelrejected.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 May 2008 |publisher=The Football Association |date=27 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014 }}</ref> Eboué was charged with violent conduct for striking Bridge, whereas Adebayor was charged for his behaviour after being sent off.<ref name="fasta">{{cite web |title=FA Statement |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/02/StatementCarlingCupFinal.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080514004043/http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/02/StatementCarlingCupFinal.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 May 2008 |publisher=The Football Association |date=27 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014 }}</ref> Both players were suspended for three matches – one less than Mikel.<ref>{{cite news |title=FA rejects player appeals as Chelsea and Arsenal brace themselves |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/28/newsstory.arsenal |first=Matt |last=Scott |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> Arsenal and Chelsea were charged with misconduct concerning their inability to control their players and were fined £100,000 each.<ref name="fasta"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Arsenal & Chelsea fined £100,000 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6500213.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=27 March 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> Wenger criticised the FA's treatment of his players and accused the linesman of lying in his account of Adebayor's actions. This led to an investigation where Wenger was found guilty; he was later fined £2,500 and censured by the FA.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wenger fined and censured by FA |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6620609.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=3 May 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref>

{{Quote box|width=320px|bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |align=left|quote="Since I arrived, they have won nothing. Since we are at Chelsea, they lost Premierships, they lost the Charity Shield to us, they lost the Carling Cup to us. I don't think they are winning a lot. Absolutely brilliant young boys, manager top, team with a great future. But they didn't win."|salign = left|source=[[José Mourinho]] on Arsenal, February 2007<ref>{{cite news |title=Mourinho hits out at Ronaldo and 'lucky United' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2308379/Mourinho-hits-out-at-Ronaldo-and-lucky-United.html |first=John |last=Ley |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=27 February 2007 |access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref>}}

Journalists reviewing the match praised Arsenal's young team; some however went as far to criticise their conduct in the brawl. [[Henry Winter]] wrote in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' of 26 February 2007 "…all feline grace and youthful ambition, [Arsenal] were the better team, moving the ball around exquisitely at times,"<ref name="wint">{{cite news |title=Chelsea take control amid the carnage |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2308299/Chelsea-take-control-amid-the-carnage.html |first=Henry |last=Winter |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=8 July 2014}}</ref> while [[Glenn Moore (journalist)|Glenn Moore]] of ''[[The Independent]]'' reflected "the Arsenal manager can take great consolation from the quality of his young footballers."<ref>{{cite news |title=Walcott dash of brilliance eclipsed as Drogba makes experience tell |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10747306.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714221706/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10747306.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2014 |first=Glenn |last=Moore |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=8 July 2014}} {{subscription required}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' correspondent [[Kevin McCarra]] opened his match report with the line "To Chelsea the trophy, to Arsenal the future," and felt the latter club deserved plaudits for the role they played in the final, and competition as a whole. He commended Chelsea's adversity and singled out Carvalho as an example; at fault for Arsenal's goal, the defender's performance thereafter was faultless.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea snatch the cup that boils over |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/26/match.arsenal |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=8 July 2014}}</ref> [[Matt Dickinson (journalist)|Matt Dickinson]] of ''[[The Times]]'' agreed that Arsenal had played the better football, but said their temperament was "brittle" – "[They] had lost the trophy before they lost their heads."<ref>{{cite news |title=Tempers snap in the Snarling Cup |first=Matt |last=Dickinson |page=S2 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=26 February 2007}}</ref> Football pundit [[Alan Hansen]] was scathing of Arsenal's behaviour and suggested their inexperience had a part to play: "When they reflect upon it, Arsenal will admit that they were largely in the wrong."<ref name="hans">{{cite news |title=No excuse for losing the game and the plot |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/alanhansen/2308316/No-excuse-for-losing-the-game-and-the-plot.html |first=Alan |last=Hansen |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=8 July 2014}}</ref> He was critical of Wenger's team selection and felt the big clubs saw the competition, much like the [[FA Cup]] as an irrelevance.<ref name="hans"/> The violence and sendings off on the pitch led to some media outlets dubbing the match as the "Snarling Cup Final",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/from-kanus-cracker-to-the-snarling-cup--the-top-five-arsenal-v-chelsea-matches-9016060.html?action=gallery&ino=1 |title= From Kanu's cracker to the 'Snarling Cup' – the top five Arsenal v Chelsea matches|newspaper=London Evening Standard |access-date=8 July 2014}}</ref> or in the case of Winter's match report the "Carnage Cup final".<ref name="wint"/>

This was the seventh and last League Cup final to be played at the [[Millennium Stadium]] in Cardiff, before the opening of the new [[Wembley Stadium]], the final's traditional venue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stadium History |url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/history/ |publisher=Millennium Stadium |access-date=8 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531021502/http://www.millenniumstadium.com/history/ |archive-date=31 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The match was broadcast live in the United Kingdom on [[Sky Sports|Sky Sports 1]]; the channel's coverage averaged at 2.7 million viewers, with a peak audience of 3.2 million (24.88%) at 5pm. At the time it was the biggest multichannel audience of 2007, overtaking a football match between Arsenal and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in January.<ref>{{cite news|title=Carling Cup grabs convincing win for Sky Sports |url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/carling-cup-grabs-convincing-win-for-sky-sports/119680.article |work=Broadcast |first=Jon |last=Rogers |location=London |date=26 February 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

Chelsea's first match after the final was against [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] in the Premier League. A 2–0 win ensured they remained in contention for the league, though by May finished in second place.<ref>{{cite news |title=Drogba maintains Chelsea's chase |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/mar/04/match.sport |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Amy |last=Lawrence |date=4 March 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6603119.stm |title=How the title was won |work=BBC Sport |first=Paul |last=Fletcher |date=6 May 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> Chelsea did however beat Manchester United to win the [[2007 FA Cup Final]] and complete a cup double.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea 1–0 Man Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6649815.stm |first=Andrew |last=McKenzie |work=BBC Sport |date=3 May 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> Arsenal played Blackburn Rovers a few days after the final in an FA Cup replay. They lost the match 1–0; it was Arsenal's third defeat in all competitions which represented their worst run of form in five years.<ref>{{cite news |title=McCarthy's late strike breaks Arsenal's hearts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/mar/01/match.newsstory |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Daniel |last=Taylor |date=1 March 2007 |access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Arsenal F.C.–Chelsea F.C. rivalry]]

==References==
;Source
*{{cite journal |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/2/f4/0,,10794~62466,00.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715002159/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/2/f4/0%2C%2C10794~62466%2C00.pdf |title=League Leader |issue=14 |publisher=The Football League |date=23 February 2007 |archive-date=15 July 2014 |access-date=6 July 2014|ref={{sfnRef|The Football League}} |url-status=dead}}

;Specific
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{commons category}}
*{{cite news |title=Mourinho takes swipe at Gunners |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6388905.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=23 February 2007 |access-date=6 July 2014}}
*{{cite news |title=The youth cup final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/25/carlingcup0607 |first=Amy |last=Lawrence |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |date=25 February 2007 |access-date=6 July 2014}}
*{{cite news |title=Chelsea 2–1 Arsenal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6371613.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2007 |access-date=25 February 2007}}

{{Football League Cup Finals}}
{{2006–07 in English football}}
{{Arsenal F.C. matches}}
{{Chelsea F.C. matches}}
{{good article}}

[[Category:2006–07 Football League|Cup Final]]
[[Category:Arsenal F.C. matches|League Cup Final 2007]]
[[Category:Chelsea F.C. matches|League Cup Final 2007]]
[[Category:2006–07 in Welsh football|League Cup Final]]
[[Category:EFL Cup finals]]
[[Category:2000s in Cardiff]]
[[Category:Brawls in team sports]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:February 2007 sports events in the United Kingdom|Football League Cup Final]]
[[Category:Association football matches in Wales]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Cardiff]]