SEBASTIAN Larsson believes that Birmingham City do have the respect of Carling Cup final opponents Arsenal.

Games in the recent past between the Wembley protagonists have been marked by controversy.

Arsenal have often complained the loudest, but Larsson reckons they don’t look down their noses at Blues.

"Why wouldn’t they respect us? We have had some good games against each other.

"Arsenal are not the type of team you can kick off the park any more, they are very physically strong now and you can forget about just playing that tactic.

"They have shown that 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."

Not that Blues have, or do do that, contrary to what some would have you think.

And Wembley’s pitch would suit Blues as much as the Gunners, says Larsson.

"It would be nice if we can play it on a five-a-side pitch instead with 11 players . . ." jokes Larsson.

"People say the bigger pitch will suit Arsenal rather than us but I also think we have played some of our best football against the bigger teams.

"It’s difficult to get the ball off them but once you get it we have sometimes played better football.

"If we can be as solid as we have been and keep the ball we can show what we can do as well.