Arsenal 'Ready' But Larsson Hopes Wait Goes on

But Larsson hopes to make the Gunners wait a little longer to end their six-year drought by triumphing in Sunday's Carling Cup final at Wembley.

The Sweden international is full of admiration for the way Arsene Wenger's side have continued to play "the beautiful game" despite a failure to lift any silverware since their victory on penalties over Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup final.

But Larsson also feels Arsenal now have that toughness about their game which, harnessed to their silky skills, means they are once again a formidable force.

Larsson told Press Association Sport: "Arsenal are not the type of team you can kick off the park anymore.

"They are very physically strong now and you can forget about just playing that tactic.

"They have shown that they have an extra hardness this season so that is not the approach we will take.

"We will try to be very solid against them but we are not going to go out there and just try and kick them. I don't think that is going to work."

Larsson admits he learnt a lot from his time with Arsenal and admires Wenger's approach to the game.

He said: "They might be tougher but not once has Arsene gone away from his type of football. They have always kept playing the same type of football.

"That's what he believes in and that's what the whole club believes in, throughout the youth system and upwards.

"It's beautiful football. It's passing and movement. One of the most difficult things when you play against Arsenal is their movement off the ball and the way they create options for each other.

"It's maybe not the most difficult thing to be the guy with the ball at Arsenal because they create options and move around so well and that is what makes it so difficult facing them."

Larsson added: "People say it's a long time since Arsenal won a trophy but I don't think Arsene has gone out and spent crazy money like maybe some people think he should have done.

"He has got his way of looking at football and has developed teams at Arsenal before and that is what he is doing again. They are ready.

"I think they are ready to win major trophies but hopefully not the one on Sunday!

"They are challenging on all four major fronts and we know what a massive task it's going to be for us.

"But we are going to go there believing in ourselves that we can cause an upset."

Larsson is bracing himself for the biggest game of his career.

He said: "I grew up in Sweden following English football and being involved in a major final is what you dreamed of as a kid. English football was always the football that I followed.

"I have seen a lot of cup finals at Wembley on television and it's going to be an absolute honour to be a part of one.

"I have never been to Wembley, old or new, as a player or supporter so it will be special.

"It will be up there as the biggest game of my career. I played in the European Championship for my country, which was another massive occasion. This is without a doubt right up there."

Another former Arsenal player, Alexander Hleb, remains Birmingham's biggest injury doubt with a knee problem suffered against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup last weekend.

With on-loan Tottenham winger David Bentley cup-tied, Lee Bowyer could earn a recall to the starting line-up.