I scored the easiest goal of my career against Arsenal - and left Arsene Wenger stunned

On this day in 2011, Obafemi Martins was the hero for Birmingham City as they beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Carling Cup final. Blues went ahead with a goal from Nikola Zigic before Robin van Persie scored to make it even.

The match was close to going into extra time when Arsenal pair Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny made a huge error. Martins got the ball after a mix-up between the defender and goalkeeper and scored easily, snatching a win for Blues late on.

Blues goalkeeper Ben Foster, the game's man of the match, had launched the ball forward with one minute of action left and Zigic won a flick-on but didn't manage to find Martins. What should have been a routine clearance for Koscielny gave way to hesitation, with Szczesny then panicking and the ball dropping to Martins for a simple finish.

After the game, Martins said his goal was «the easiest of my career». «I think this is the easiest goal I've ever scored in my career and it's very important,» he said. «I'm glad I scored today and I'm glad we won. I think it was my second touch. I'm very happy.»

A stunned Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said Koscielny and Szczesny were flooed after the mistake, which cost their side a first trophy in seven years.

He said: «Both of them [Koscielny and Szczesny] are destroyed. We have to lift them up again and help them, that is what a team is about, that is part of the game.» «It was a lack of communication, determination a little bit as well. Like always, when the ball is in no-man's land, someone has to take responsibility and go for it.»

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