Flashback: 2007 League Cup final Ahead of Arsenal v Chelsea...Terry had his head kicked in, three players were sent off and Drogba ripped Wenger's dreams to shreds

When Jose Mourinho's Chelsea travel to Arsenal on Tuesday night in the League Cup, with 9,000 fans in tow, it will evoke memories of the 2007 final.

A pulsating clash with several flashpoints; three players being sent off, Abou Diaby kicking John Terry in the head, Theo Walcott's first Arsenal goal, Didier Drogba producing his very best to win Chelsea the silverware.

If you think the League Cup doesn't matter, this game stands defiantly and stares you in the face. And it will matter on Tuesday night as well.

Arsenal, without a trophy in eight-and-a-half years, will not want to meekly surrender a chance to progress. They will not want to have their recent streak of good form ended by London rivals in their own backyard either.

Mourinho, meanwhile, would take great pleasure in putting one in the eye for Wenger, a historic rival.

Wenger put out a young side back on that Sunday in February at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium - with an average age of just 20 - but it still featured the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Kolo Toure, Abou Diaby, Julio Baptista and the aforementioned Walcott.


Mourinho's side was more rugged, with Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Michael Essien making up an experienced and powerful midfield quartet.

But it was the 17-year-old Walcott who opened the scoring after 12 minutes, receiving from Diaby and fooling Ricardo Carvalho, before teasing the ball Thierry Henry-style past Cech and into the far corner.

Arsenal had dominated the early stages, but Drogba, even back then a great nemesis for the Gunners, had other ideas.

He got free on the right, beating Arsenal's offside trap by hook or by crook, to reach Ballack's through ball and fire under Manuel Almunia.

It didn't break Arsenal's stride - they peppered Cech's goal and Chelsea needed a great bit of defending by Ricardo Carvalho to deny Jeremie Aliadiere before the interval.

After 63 minutes Terry had to make way for John Obi Mikel, after being knocked unconscious and then given an oxygen mask after he threw himself in for a header but was kicked by Diaby.

Chelsea's captain is noted for his bravery and it caused this incident, flying in for a diving header while Diaby attempted to clear. It led to 11 minutes of stoppage time being added on later.

The bookings racked up, Chelsea with four and Arsenal with three, as tempers frayed.

And then, as we headed for extra-time, a fine cross from Arjen Robben was headed in by Drogba, who rose magnificently to send the Chelsea supporters into pandemonium, with his 28th goal of the season.

Killer: Drogba has often been the thorn in Arsenal's side and this was one of those occasions he relished

That wasn't it, though. Mikel and Toure clashed, both were sent off. Adebayor too, was dismissed. Mourinho and Wenger were on the pitch, separating sparring players.

Some labelled the scenes 'ugly' and 'ungentlemanly', others thought it was simply what happens with passion collides with pressure.

Complaints: Wenger and Mourinho debate the rights and wrongs on the pitch towards the end of the game

Lampard understood both sides of the argument. 'In the heat of battle things happen and they escalate, and maybe now you'd sit down and say you wish it didn't happen,' he said.

'But people want to come and see a final that two teams want to win, and that's what happened.'

On Tuesday night at the Emirates, don't be surprised if the two teams are going at it hammer and tongs again.

Follow Sports4G On Twitter @Sports4G and Facebook For The Latest Sports Gists @ 4G Speeds... Winks