Van Persie back for final

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has recovered from a hamstring injury to captain the side in today’s Carling Cup final against Birmingham at Wembley.

The Dutchman takes over the armband from the injured Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), while Tomas Rosicky has been given the task of replacing Theo Walcott (ankle).

Birmingham midfielder Alexander Hleb has failed to recover from a knee injury in time to face his former club.

Nikola Zigic is preferred to Obafemi Martins and Cameron Jerome as the lone striker, while Lee Bowyer earns a recall in place of the cup-tied David Bentley.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Rosicky, Song, Nasri, Wilshere, Arshavin, van Persie.

Subs: Almunia, Denilson, Squillaci, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh, Bendtner.

Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Jiranek, Ridgewell, Fahey, Gardner, Ferguson, Bowyer, Larsson, Zigic.

Subs: Taylor, Murphy, Phillips, Jerome, Martins, Parnaby, Beausejour.

Referee: Mike Dean.