Arsenal dug deep into their reserves last night, leaving out £26 million worth of first-team players, but still pulling off the win their manager Arsene Wenger had predicted. Despite the controversy surrounding Arsenal's decision not to field a full-strength team, victory was sealed by three goals in extra-time, the first a penalty converted by David Platt, then a breakaway goal from Luis Boa Morte, his second of the game, and finally a low left-foot shot from Alberto Mendez made it 4-1 on the night.
Arsenal's surge came after they had lost the youngster Jason Crowe for a reckless tackle only 33 seconds after he had came on for his debut as a substitute at the start of extra-time.
Arsenal fielded only one regular first-team player in their starting line-up, right back Lee Dixon. The club offered a refund to supporters who had already bought tickets for the game and felt cheated. Having said that, though, last night's Arsenal side still cost about £9 million to assemble.
Six players were making their first starts, including George Weah's cousin Christopher Wreh up front and, in midfield, the 17year-old Paolo Vernazza, who is eligible to play for England and Italy.
However, the multicultural line-up looked tasty going forward, with the left-winger Mendez, whom Wenger discovered playing for a fifth division German club, particularly lively.
On 18 minutes he sent a 25yard shot just wide and 10 minutes later worked his way cleverly into the area only to shoot straight at Ian Bennett. Arsenal found trouble at the other end, too. On 20 minutes the makeshift defence made three attempts to clear the ball, failed every time and the German Tony Hey shot past Alex Manninger from 17 yards.
In the second half Hey, recommended to Birmingham by the former Arsenal striker Tony Woodcock, hit the bar with a 25yard free-kick and Paul Devlin shot just wide at the near post from Chris Holland's cross.
But then on 63 minutes Birmingham, as if mimicking Arsenal earlier, also failed to clear their lines properly and paid the price, letting the home side back into the game. Mendez's corner was beaten out but the German collected the ball again and swung in another cross which was cleared by the defence but only fell to Boa Morte, running in, who slammed a left-foot shot past Ian Bennett.
Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon (Crowe 91), Platt, Wreh, Grimandi, Upson, Boa Morte (Muntasser 119), Mendez, Marshall, Hughes, Vernazza. Subs Not Used: Bartram. Sent Off: Crowe (91). Booked: Marshall, Dixon, Upson. Goals: Boa Morte 62, 108, Mendez 113, Platt 99 pen.
Birmingham: Bennett, Wassall, Grainger, Bruce (Johnson 100), Ablett, O'Connor, Devlin (Bass 84), Hey, Holland (Francis 105), Robinson, Ndlovu. Sent Off: Wassall (83). Booked: Grainger, Wassall, Ndlovu. Goals: Hey 20. (After Extra Time). Attendance: 27,097.
Referee: U D Rennie (Sheffield).
