2014-01-25

Arsenal cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 4-0 win against League One side Coventry City thanks to a brace in the first half from German forward Lukas Podolski and a couple of late goals from substitutes Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla. Arsenal were good value for their half-time lead and probably should have scored more in the opening 45 minutes, which they completely dominated. Coventry came out all guns blazing in the second period and gave their travelling fans plenty to cheer about, putting on an excellent display before Giroud’s late strike killed off the tie.

Arsenal made a host of changes for this game with Lukasz Fabianski continuing in goal for the Cup games, after keeping a clean sheet against Tottenham Hotspur in the last round. The Arsenal full-backs were refreshed with Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs coming in for Bacary Sagna and Nacho Monreal, but the undefeated duo of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker continued in the heart of defence. In what could be the future for both Arsenal and England, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were paired together in midfield, with Mesut Ozil operating just ahead of them. Nicklas Bendtner had recovered sufficiently from his injury to be thrust right back into the starting eleven, and was flanked by Lukas Podolski and his 10-year junior German compatriot Serge Gnabry.

Coventry meanwhile had included top scorer Leon Clarke and Franck Moussa in their starting line-up, making their intention of going for a result abundantly clear.

It was all Arsenal in the first half as Coventry sat back deep in their half and allowed the Gunners to pass the ball with gay abandon in front of them. Arsenal looked threatening every time they got their full backs forward with Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson putting in some delicious early crosses, one of which was missed by Podolski at the far post.

The goal that Arsenal’s play deserved came courtesy of a Coventry error though as a misplaced pass was picked off by the Gunners’ midfield and Mesut Ozil’s through ball to Podolski saw the 28 year old comfortably side step Joe Murphy before slotting the ball home. It didn’t take Arsenal long to double their lead with Podolski coming in well at the back post to nod home from point blank range, albeit under pressure, after Per Mertesacker had expertly flicked on Gnabry’s corner.

In between the Arsenal goals, Coventry had their only chance of the half, and it came to their skipper Carl Baker, who sidestepped Mertesacker brilliantly and let fly from distance, only to draw a fantastic save from Fabianski at full stretch.

Whatever Manager Steven Pressley told his players at half time did the trick as they gave the Gunners a real game in the second period. Coventry were pressing high up the pitch, winning the ball and taking on opportunities that came their way. Leon Clarke had a terrific chance to reduce the deficit when he was played through on goal, but his poor decision making forced him wide, allowing Fabianski to get behind his effort well and prevent a goal.

Clarke soon after showed his real potential as he let fly from the edge of the box and this time Fabianski was rooted to the spot, but was saved by the breadth of the post which was left shaking in the aftermath of the 23 year old striker’s powerful drive.

Arsenal were forced to work hard in the second period, and Wenger’s decision to freshen up his side paid off as Giroud showed Bendtner the way to finish, by leaving some space for himself to be found in the box by a Kieran Gibbs cross, and smashing home in the 84th minute. Cazorla added gloss to the scoreline by grabbing the Gunners fourth after Jenkinson’s powerful effort was palmed back into play by Murphy, and the Spaniard was once again on hand to volley home.

Arsenal should have added a fifth when Ozil was played through by a poor back pass, but the exhausted German somehow contrived to shoot wide with the goal gaping at his mercy.

The scoreline might have been a little flattering to Arsenal, but perhaps more crucially for the Gunners it was their 7th win on the trot in all competitions and their 9th clean sheet in their last 10 games at home, an incredible record. Arsenal are back in action on Tuesday night when they head to the St. Mary’s Stadium to take on a Southampton side that always tend to raise their game at home when the big boys come calling.

Teams:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Gnabry, Podolski, Bendtner

Subs: Sagna, Giroud, Viviano, Monreal, Cazorla, Flamini, Zelalem.

Coventry: Murphy, Christie, Webster, Seaborne, Adams, Baker, Thomas, Fleck, Daniels, Moussa, Clarke

Subs: Slager, Burge, Barton, Phillips, Willis, Jordan Clarke, Haynes.

Final Score: Arsenal 2-0 Coventry (Podolski 15′, 27′, Giroud 84′, Cazorla 89′)

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The post Arsenal 4-0 Coventry City: Match Report appeared first on Arsenal News.

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