Lifelong Arsenal fan Reuben Hazell tonight completes the transition from the Emirates stands to the hallowed turf – as he aims to cause a Carling Cup sensation with Shrewsbury Town.

Hazell has followed fortunes of the north London giants since he was seven, was a Gunners season ticket holder as recently as the 2009-10 campaign and is currently on the waiting list for another one.

But his sole target on one of the biggest nights of his career is to pile the heat on Arsene Wenger by helping to instigate one of the most famous victories in Shrewsbury’s history.

“I’m an Arsenal fan so I couldn’t have written the script any better,” said the Birmingham based 32-year-old who arrived from Oldham in the summer.

“When my dad came over from the Caribbean when he was young, he took to Arsenal and Manchester United and when I was about seven I said ‘I’m going Arsenal’ and I’m so glad I did.

“I was on the waiting list for a season ticket for seven years and got one two years ago so I went to a lot of the Sunday and midweek games when I wasn’t playing myself.

“I gave it up to spend more time with the family but I’m on the waiting list again now with my two little boys, Romy and Cairo (five and three).

“I’ve never played against Arsenal at any level so it’s a fantastic opportunity for me coming towards the end of my career. I’m excited and my family will be there so if we win, it will be even better.”

Hazell, a League Cup finalist with Tranmere in 2000, has been an interested observer at Arsenal’s recent slump.

“It’s one of those periods where you take the rough with the smooth,” he added. “I’m not a fickle fan. They still have the quality and will always score goals. I think they are suffering without the ball and that’s a big part of football at any level.

“But that’s for Arsene Wenger to sort out and I hope they have a leaky defence tonight and then sort the problems out.”