Terry knocked out, a mass brawl, three see red... and Chelsea won 2-1

A compelling, high-quality Carling Cup final - which Chelsea dramatically won 2-1 - was marred by an extraordinary, low-grade mass brawl between Chelsea and Arsenal players which resulted in three red cards and both Jose Mourinho and Arsène Wenger running on to the pitch to try to restore order.

Before that, Chelsea's John Terry had been taken to hospital after losing consciousness when he was accidentally kicked in the face by Abou Diaby as the 26-year-old England captain attempted to win a header. It was feared Terry had swallowed his tongue, and players, who frantically waved on the medical teams, claimed he was turning blue.

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But Terry, who played only after a remarkably swift recovery from an ankle injury, was later able to return to the stadium and join in his team-mates' celebrations. "He lost consciousness, that was the major problem," Mourinho said. "The first thought is the man's safety and the man's family. After that you think of football."

Those celebrations started with the Chelsea manager defiantly waving five fingers towards the executive boxes and the Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, to remind him of the trophies he has won for the club - two league titles, two league cups and the Community Shield.

Mourinho also pointedly reminded his employer of his obligations: "The fans are fantastic to me, the players are fantastic to me and the club that gives me a contract to 2010, I think they must be happy."

The latest trophy was won through two accomplished goals from Didier Drogba after Chelsea had fallen behind to a strike by Theo Walcott, still just 17, his first for Arsenal, who have still to triumph in this competition under Wenger.

In mitigation, Arsenal once again fielded a young team, although it will gnaw away at their manager that he is yet to prevail over Mourinho in seven meetings. But it was the disgraceful fight, in the dying minutes of the contest, that will dominate. In the 47-year history of the League Cup final, there have been only a total of three sendings-off. Yesterday there were three in one game; in one incident. It will also lead to an investigation by the Football Association with both clubs likely to be charged with failing to keep control of their players. "I'm worried, yes," said Wenger. "With the FA you always have a good chance to worry."

The incident happened as John Obi Mikel pulled back Kolo Touré before kicking the ball away. Both players reacted, punches were thrown and Frank Lampard and Cesc Fabregas - who were both cautioned - also got involved before other players and staff ran in.

Eventually, Mikel and Touré were dismissed, along with Emmanuel Adebayor, who protested angrily over his innocence and had to be pulled away by Arsenal physiotherapist Gary Lewin. He appeared to be wronged but any appeal may be replaced with further punishment for abusing the referee, Howard Webb, and failing to leave the pitch.

Webb, however, completely failed to punish Emmanuel Eboué for punching Wayne Bridge off the ball and forcing him to the ground. The young Ivorian is certain to face charges. It was utter chaos and, amid it, Mourinho and Wenger dragged players apart.

"It was a brawl, a few punches were exchanged and not only for our side," Wenger admitted. "If I can be guilty, OK, I will take it. But I feel it was just tense.

"We lost our nerve with seven minutes to go. You must always keep your nerve. And instead of losing it we should have taken the free-kick. It was the best way to come back."

Wenger said he had three regrets - the chances his team missed, their loss of nerve and also the performance of Webb who he accused of making "bad decisions". Wenger said of the brawl: "I'm very disappointed because I don't think it reflected the quality of the game, because both teams went for it in a fair way. I hope that people will keep a little bit in their mind that it was also a good football game."

Mourinho agreed. "It was a pity what happened," he said. "It was dramatic and difficult and maybe it was a consequence of frustration and some boys lost their emotion.

"It is not time to think who is guilty, who is not guilty. It is time to think good things. My player with a red card is John Mikel. If he did something wrong it is not for me to kill him. It is for me to educate him. My players say Eboué was more responsible than the others. I don't know."

Instead it will be for the FA to decide.