Arsenal youngsters seek final glory over Chelsea

LONDON, Feb 22 (Reuters) Arsene Wenger is putting his faith in Arsenal's energetic young proteges to beat Chelsea in the first all-London League Cup final on Sunday and bring the trophy back to the club for the first time since 1993.

Chelsea, who have won the competition twice in the last nine seasons and three times in its 47-year history, travel to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium without injured skipper John Terry and with a doubt over Dutch winger Arjen Robben following their 1-1 draw with Porto in the Champions League yesterday.

They should still have enough experience and guile to get the better of a young Arsenal side, but will take nothing for granted following the youngsters' wins over Liverpool and arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur en route to the final.

League champions Chelsea would also like to avenge their defeat by Arsenal there in the 2002 FA Cup final -- and underline their position as not just London's top club, but also the country's number one outfit.

Wenger has said he will stick with the young team who have eliminated West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Liverpool and Spurs to reach the final with club skipper Thierry Henry likely to start on the bench.

''I believe the boys have the right mental strengths to finish the job, they have already shown that,'' Wenger said this week.

Arsenal go to Cardiff after drawing 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup last weekend and losing 1-0 to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Winning the first English trophy of the season will be the perfect lift for the club.

INJURY LIST Chelsea's injury concerns in defence extend beyond the inspirational Terry, who damaged ankle ligaments, to Netherlands international Khalid Boulahrouz, out after dislocating his shoulder last weekend.

''Every day I lose a player,'' coach Jose Mourinho lamented. ''We have just one central defender again. We have to play Arsenal with (Ghana midfielder Michael) Essien and (Ricardo) Carvalho at the back because we have no choice.'' Mourinho has had to juggle his makeshift defence most of the year after earlier injuries to Terry and Boulahrouz with the coach's compatriot Carvalho holding the backline together.

''This season we are doing a great job in being in the position we are in all competitions,'' the Portuguese said.

England left back Ashley Cole is unlikely to face his former team mates after playing just an hour of reserve team football following his ankle injury.

Up front, winger Joe Cole is a long term absentee with a foot injury, while Robben is doubtful with a muscle strain.

One upside for Chelsea is the improved form of 30 million pound (.5 million) striker Andriy Shevchenko who has had trouble settling in London after seven years at AC Milan but who has scored five goals in his last seven matches including the equaliser at Porto.

He also scored when the English champions last went to the Millennium Stadium in the Community Shield charity opener last August though the Londoners lost 2-1 to Liverpool.

Chelsea would prefer to remember Cardiff for their 3-2 triumph over Liverpool in the League Cup final two years ago, Mourinho's first trophy with the club and their third success in the competition after winning in 1965 and 1998.

They also beat Arsenal in the Community Shield in 2005 but their neighbours have happier memories of top competition in Cardiff having beaten Chelsea in the 2002 FA Cup final.

Probable teams: Chelsea: Petr Cech; Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien, Wayne Bridge (or Ashley Cole); Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, John Obi Mikel (or Arjen Robben); Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko.

Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Justin Hoyte, Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos, Gael Clichy (or Armand Traore); Gilberto, Denilson, Abou Diaby, Francesc Fabregas; Jeremie Aliadiere, Emmanuel Adebayor (or Julio Baptista) REUTERS PM PM2000