Carling cup final represents the contrast between the present and the future.

In a sense the carling cup final of 2007 represents and highlights a classic discussion point in the different philosophies of the clubs.

In the one corner you have the mighty Chelsea a club which in large measure has been transformed from a top six side to now be the elite in the premiership having won the major trophies for the last 2 years. A club that has had a limitless (until recently) financial backing which enabled Mourinho to buy players in the manner similar to a gamer would assemble his side in a video game. Chelsea play a very tight defensive game which is based on their defense and built on keeping clean sheets and conceeding very few goals and on the other side getting that 1 goal that will give them victory. Mourinho is an inspirational coach and his players will follow his results orientated approach.

Then on the other side of the carling cup final there is Wenger and his Arsenal, who until Abramovich came seemed to be taking on the mantle of the dominant side of the new century. They had gone an entire season unbeaten in 2004 and looked to be a team that would remain strong for 3-5 years. It remains a debatable point if Chelsea's new found power forced Wenger's hand or not. It is unclear if at this point Wenger came to change his vision due to the new Chelsea that had come about. However and this part is factual, Wenger knew that he could no longer bid against Chelsea if they wanted the same player. During his time at Arsenal Wenger rarely got into bidding wars with any other clubs. And so whether by design or otherwise Wenger relinquished the next 2 or more years to the "stronger" clubs and set about deconstructing his existing side (casting off Vieira,Edu,Keown and numerous others) and assembling his new aquisitions. Fast tracking the footballing education of such players as Fabregas and Van Persie and signing relatively unknown players who over the last 2 years have grown up the hard way in the premiership. They have lost a lot of games away from home and indeed Arsenal and Wenger were very lucky last season to finally grab 4th place and a champions league berth. This was the lowest league finish Wenger and Arsenal had ever achieved and now with players fast maturing and mixed with some experienced players they will face Chelsea a team that could be called the finished product. It is the classic established versus the young upstarts.

For Wenger the beauty of all this is that time seems to be on his side. He will play a very youthful team, a team that has gotten to the final beating West Brom,Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham. The onus will be on Chelsea to see off the younglings, to show them who is top dog and to send the message that they will not relinquish their crown of top team just yet.

However as they square up to each other just before the whistle blows to start the game, they will recognise the reality of what is to come, the future of english football.