Roared on by the deafening noise of the home crowd, local boy and self-confessed Bluenose Craig Gardner fired Blues through to the final with a yard winner. Over 30, lucky Bluenoses headed to Wembley, with many more watching on TVs around the world, as their heroes went into battle with a star-studded Arsenal side under the Wembley arch. But Blues held the advantage for only 11 minutes as Robin Van Persie equalised before the break. So Blues deserved any luck that went their way in the second-half when a magnificent backs-to-the-wall display repelled every Arsenal attack.
The Blues keeper pulled off a string of top-class saves to keep the Gunners at bay, before providing the assist for a dramatic 89th minute winner. Foster pumped a high free-kick into the opposition penalty area and a mix-up between Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny gifted an almost unmissable chance to super sub Obafemi Martins, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes.
The Nigerian striker, making only his fourth appearance since joining the Club on loan, had the simple job of rolling the ball into an empty net. Arsenal, for their part, were co-conspirators in this result. After six years without a trophy, it is impossible to believe they were complacent. It is more likely that we were witnessing nervousness as they rolled the ball around to very limited effect in the first half. There were intimations even then of vulnerability in the ranks.
Zigic regularly highlighted that. He not only scored the opener but should have added to it. After 28 minutes, Sebastian Larsson put a corner towards the fringes of the penalty area and Roger Johnson got the better of Koscielny to nod the ball into the goalmouth, where the Serb diverted the ball into the net with his head.
Arsenal's apprehension was marked well before that. Although they were behind then, the situation might have been far worse. Szczensy would have been sent off in the second minute for bringing down Lee Bowyer, following a pass from Zigic, had it not been for the mistake by the assistant referee Ron Garfield in raising the flag for offside.
McLeish's side showed a desire to seize the opportunity, while Arsenal lost track of where they were and why. This may have been the least of the four prizes that Wenger's side were pursuing, but there will be further misery if they continue to be so brittle. Pandemonium ensued. If you don't play for one of the top clubs, those experiences don't come too often. In the dressing room, everyone was buzzing.
There was champagne everywhere, people taking pictures and grabbing every bit of memorabilia. There was disappointment that I didn't go on, and in the back of my mind I was looking at Obafemi and thinking: 'That would have been me'. You have a tap-in and you go down as a Blues legend. It was disbelief really - we'd just beaten Arsenal and Arsene Wenger with all their history.
All of the pressure heading into the match was on Arsenal, not only because they were the stronger side but also because they were battling a perception that a weak mentality had seeped into the club since the likes of Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry had departed.
While Birmingham knew they would be underdogs, there was evidence the Gunners might struggle physically. If they could be put under pressure, there was a chance Wenger's men would crumble.
Three weeks earlier, they became the first team to surrender a four-goal lead in Premier League history, drawing at Newcastle. That was one of the reasons Alex set up the way he did. McLeish played five in midfield, with target man Zigic supported by year-old Lee Bowyer making runs from deep. Maybe that's why they turned up in their tracksuits like it was any other day and we came suited and booted.
Probably not. Paul Montgomery, Birmingham's head of football operations at the time, had worked with McLeish at Rangers and played a key role in bringing the likes of Martins and Zigic to the club. Arsenal's centre-halves were not the best in the air and he had his best game for the club.
Following victory at Wembley, Birmingham returned to Premier League action. Blocked by Laurent Koscielny.
Keith Fahey has an effort at goal from just outside the area that bounces off the post. Free kick taken by Laurent Koscielny. Sebastian Larsson crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance by Laurent Koscielny. Corner from the left by-line taken by Sebastian Larsson, clearance made by Laurent Koscielny.
Direct free kick taken by Barry Ferguson. Direct free kick taken by Johan Djourou. Save by Wojciech Szczesny. Free kick crossed right-footed by Andrey Arshavin from left channel, save by Ben Foster. Tomas Rosicky takes the free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Barry Ferguson. Gael Clichy restarts play with the free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ben Foster. Martin Jiranek restarts play with the free kick. Blocked by Roger Johnson. Johan Djourou takes the free kick.
Bacary Sagna takes the indirect free kick. Wojciech Szczesny restarts play with the free kick. Blocked by Nikola Zigic. Inswinging corner taken by Robin van Persie, Header from close in by Johan Djourou misses to the left of the target. Roger Johnson takes the indirect free kick.
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