Gunners can 'deal with' injuries

Soccer:Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal have the strength in depth to cope without captain Cesc Fabregas and England winger Theo Walcott to lift the Carling Cup tomorrow - but urged his young squad not to play with the fear of defeat at Wembley.

The Gunners closed the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United to one point with a 1-0 win over Stoke on Wednesday night, but it came at some cost as Fabregas limped off with a hamstring problem and Walcott left on a stretcher after turning his ankle.

While Walcott now faces a race to be fit for the second leg of the Champions League clash against Barcelona in the Nou Camp, Wenger expects Fabregas to only be a short-term absentee.

Although the loss of Arsenal's talisman is of course a major blow, Wenger believes there is no reason why his side cannot claim a first trophy since 2005 if they play their own game rather than worry about the occasion.

"Cesc is sad and disappointed of course, but it could have been worse, the injury is a very small one," Wenger said. "We have so many targets in front of us, it is important that he is not out for longer.

"Now what is important is the team and the squad focuses on the game we want to play on Sunday. Ideally you want everybody fit, but before the season starts you know you can have some players injured. We can deal with the fact that Cesc will not be there, Walcott will not be there and, of course, [Thomas] Vermaelen will not be there.

"When you look at the squad we have and the number of players we have available, we have enough quality players to deal with that."

However, Wenger added: "What is important when you go into a final is that you give absolutely everything. You do not want to go into a final with fear that if you lose, it will be dramatic.

"What you want is to go into the final and give everything to win it and that is how we approach the game."

Arsenal are certainly in a consistent run of form as they battle on four fronts, with a Carling Cup semi-final, first leg loss at Ipswich their only defeat since being beaten away at Manchester United on December 13.

"We have belief, confidence and are committed," Wenger said. "We have a good bond, a good confidence level and are highly determined to do well on all fronts. What will be vital for our success is that we focus well on the next game and give the biggest importance to the next game - that is the final game in the Carling Cup and we will give everything to be successful.

"There is a good feeling in the camp, we are in a good run, on a very strong run."

Wenger feels his latest generation are ready to come of age.

"This team is a young team. They have the advantage of a team that has grown together," he added. "If you look at the predictions at the start of the season, we are well over the predictions of the specialists.

"What is important is not what happened in the last five years, but what we can do now. Victory at Wembley can help us to have more confidence for the other trophies that we go for. We know what we want to do, we want to dominate the game, have possession of the ball and be faithful to our game and give everything to win it."

While Arsenal may be favourites to lift the trophy, Wenger will certainly not be taking the threat of Birmingham lightly.

"Birmingham are a team I respect a lot because they have always consistent behaviour in their motivational level," he said. "They have stabilised the club in the Premier League and they are now in the Carling Cup final. We will face a Birmingham team that is highly determined to do well. We expect them to be at their best and that means a big performance from our side will be required."