Arsenal cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup this evening courtesy of a 4-0 win over League One side Coventry City at the Emirates.
The Gunners took a two-goal lead into the break after Lukas Podolski scored twice in a dominant first half for the hosts, rounding the keeper for his first and nodding in at the back post for his second 12 minutes later.
Coventry fought back after the break and almost reduced the deficit when Leon Clarke's effort from the edge of the box came back off the post.
However, the visitors could not make the most of their increased number of chances and subs Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla capped off the scoring late on to secure Arsenal's progress.
You can read how an entertaining encounter unfolded with Sports Mole's live play by play coverage below.
Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's FA Cup fourth-round tie between Arsenal and Coventry City. On paper, this looks like a foregone conclusion, but the FA Cup has a reputation for providing big shocks, and the visitors will be looking to spring another one tonight.
We'll start by looking at our hosts tonight, and things are looking awfully good for Arsenal right now. They have won their last six games and are unbeaten in seven. Arsene Wenger's side looked to be on the verge of falling away when Napoli and Manchester City beat them in back-to-back matches, but they have not lost since that 6-3 drubbing by City and are flying high at the moment.
In fact, no-one in English football is flying higher. The Gunners currently top the Premier League by one point having responded to Man City and Chelsea's fine form with perfect results of their own. The Emirates Stadium, in particular, has become a happy hunting ground for the Gunners, with just three defeats here all season and none in their last nine. In those nine games they have won seven - all by the scoreline of 2-0 - and drawn two. Even more impressively, they have conceded just one goal in that time while scoring 15.
That defensive solidity is really what Arsenal's recent form has been based upon. They have conceded fewer goals than any other side in the Premier League this season, letting in just 19 in their 22 matches. In all competitions, they have conceded just two in their last seven games, scoring 12 in that time.
They aren't exactly running riot at the other end of the pitch, but they are steadily and regularly finding the net. A such, their 43 league goals scored so far this season is a tally only bettered by the free-scoring Man City and Liverpool. As I mentioned earlier, their last seven home victories have been 2-0, and that scoreline is indicative of Arsenal's style at the moment. They don't thrash teams, but they ease past them and it seems to be working a treat for Wenger right now.
One such victory came in the third round of this competition, and it is a result Arsenal fans won't forget in a hurry. They beat North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to progress into this fourth round, although that match also saw Theo Walcott ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, so it wasn't all smiles for the Gunners.
However straightforward this match may appear on paper, Arsene Wenger will be wary of the threat that Coventry can pose. He has been involved in English football for long enough to know how fickle the FA Cup can be, and it certainly doesn't pay respect to the big guns if they don't earn it. That was the case last season, when Arsenal were surprisingly dumped out of the competition courtesy of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers. Coupled with their League Cup exit to Bradford City, that will leave Wenger in no doubt that lower league teams should not be underestimate in knockout football.
The club does have a rich history in the competition, so they are unlikely to take it lightly. They have won it 10 times, a tally only 11-time winners Manchester United can better. Wenger himself has won it four times since his arrival in England, although he won't need reminding that the last time they picked up the famous trophy was way back in 2005 - the last time they picked up any silverware. They face a tough challenge in the league and the Champions League, so this competition could well be their best chance of ending that drought.
Coventry's FA Cup pedigree is not quite as impressive as their more illustrious opponents, but they do have a memorable Wembley appearance to look back on in their history. They came up against the other team from North London on that occasions, shocking Spurs 3-2 after extra time to win the cup back in 1987 - a day that is rightly regarded as one of the greatest in Coventry's history.
Things aren't quite so glorious for them at the moment, however. They come into this match 11th in League One and with more baggage than the Emirates can carry. Their home matches are being played 35 miles from Coventry at Northampton Town's stadium, while they have also been under a transfer embargo for much of the season. The fans plan to stage a protest in the 35th minute to highlight the distance between their city and their 'home' stadium.
Under the circumstances, though, you'd have to say that the season has been a success so far. Fans may have been fearing the worst when they started the campaign on -10 points, but that deficit was soon wiped out and they began to climb the table at a good pace. They currently trail the playoff places by 10 points, so without that penalty they would be in with a real shout of going up this year. They still have hopes of launching a charge for the top six, but it will be a tall order for them to pull it off.
It will also be a tall order for them to pull off a victory tonight, despite their good form going into the game. They are unbeaten in their last six matches, winning three and drawing three, while they have only been beaten once in their last 11. Away from home they are also impressive, although it could be argued that every game is away from home for them. They have lost just one of the last 12 games on their travels, although there was also a penalty defeat to Leyton Orient in the Football League Trophy during that time.
The Sky Blues certainly don't have a problem finding the net, with 65 goals in all competitions this season and 55 in the league alone, one less than top-scorers and league leaders Leyton Orient. However, at the other end of the pitch it is a different story. They have conceded 45 times in the league, the worst total in the top 17 and fourth leakiest defence in the entire league. Worryingly for them, they have not kept a clean sheet since a 3-0 win over Notts County on November 2.
It may have been a while since Coventry were plying their trade alongside Arsenal in the top flight, but they will have fresh memories of the Emirates having visited here in the League Cup last season. That occasion did not go well for them, however, as they were sent packing with a heavy 6-1 defeat.
Being so much further down the league ladder, Coventry have had a longer route to the fourth round than Arsenal. The Sky Blues beat Wimbledon 3-1 in their first match before overcoming Hartlepool via a replay to reach the third round. There they met Championship side Barnsley and pulled off something of a shock by beating them 2-1. Another victory tonight would be a much bigger shock, but they won't be short of confidence.
TEAM NEWS: Right, time to bring you come team news! The biggest headlines from the Arsenal camp come in midfield and up front. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starts for the first time since his injury back in August, while Mesut Ozil is also included. Nicklas Bendtner, also returning from injury, starts up front in place of Olivier Giroud, who is on the bench. For Coventry, Leon Clarke starts despite continued speculation over his future, while Billy Daniels comes into the side. Full team news for both sides on the way...
ARSENAL STARTING XI: Fabianski; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil; Gnabry, Podolski, Bendtner
ARSENAL SUBS: Viviano, Sagna, Monreal, Zelalem, Flamini, Cazorla, Giroud
COVENTRY STARTING XI: Murphy; Christie, Webster, Seaborne, Adams; Baker, Thomas, Fleck, Daniels, Moussa; L. Clarke
COVENTRY SUBS: Burge, Willis, J. Clarke, Haynes, Phillips, Barton, Slager
So, what can we make of those two teams? Well, starting with the hosts, Wenger was expected to make changes and he hasn't disappointed in that respect. However, he has made a statement of intent by including a number of regulars in the side, most notably Ozil and Wilshere in midfield. Those two will be looking forward to taking on inferior opposition tonight, and they will be joined in the centre of midfield by Oxlade-Chamberlain, who may need a bit of guidance in an unfamiliar position. Still, it is good for Arsenal and England to see him back starting.
At the back, Wenger has gone for more quality as he looks to maintain his side's remarkable defensive record of late. Fabianski was always likely to come in for Szczesny, but the inclusions of Mertesacker and Koscielny will not be a welcome sight for Coventry fans. They have formed a formidable partnership in defence this season and do not give goals away easily.
Up front, Wenger is always keen to give Olivier Giroud a rest whenever possible due to his lack of other options at centre-forward. The much-derided Bendtner comes in for the Frenchman, and he has actually played quite well for the Gunners when he has featured this season. Tonight will be a great chance for him to get back to scoring ways following a few games out with injury.
Should things get tight for the Gunners then they have a strong bench to choose from, with Cazorla and Giroud the names that really catch the eye as potential game changer. Cazorla, of course, scored in the win over Spurs in the third round, so he will be keen to get on today.
Should Coventry manage to spring a surprise today, they are likely to count on Leon Clarke to do so. The striker's future is shrouded in doubt, but starting him was always going to be on Pressley's mind for such a big game. Who knows, tonight could see his last action for the Sky Blues, and what better way to say goodbye than helping your side to a cup upset?
Elsewhere, Fleck is one to watch for the hosts. He made his name for himself as something of a starlet when he broke into the Rangers first team aged just 16, but things haven't quite worked out for him since. He is still capable of game-changing moments, however, and Arsenal will need to keep an eye on him.
The defence is no doubt anticipating a long evening tonight as they prepare to be besieged by wave after wave of Arsenal attacks. It does seem to be a question of how long they can hold out for rather than if they can keep a clean sheet, as very few teams have stopped Arsenal scoring at home this season.
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes from kickoff at the Emirates, which means that it is time I made my prediction! We all know how unpredictable the FA Cup can be, but even accounting for that it is hard to see past a convincing Arsenal win today. The Gunners are in brilliant form, especially at home, and have comfortably seen off better teams than Coventry already this season. I'm going to go for a 3-0 win to the hosts.
These two sides have met before in the FA Cup, and it was Arsenal who progressed on both occasions. In 1975 they were forced into a replay following a draw at Highfield Road, beating the Sky Blues 3-0 at Highbury. Two years later they welcomed Coventry back to Highbury and beat them again, this time 3-1.
Interestingly, this fixture was also Arsene Wenger's first home game in charge of Arsenal. He led his new Gunners side out for the first time at Highbury in October 1996 and watched on as they played out a 0-0 draw. Something tells me this one isn't going to be goalless tonight.
This is the first game in a whole weekend of FA Cup action, so hopefully it will get us off to a fitting start. There is one more FA Cup match on tonight as Nottingham Forest host Preston, and I will keep you updated with major events from that match as and when they happen. That one kicks off at 8pm.
The teams are on their way out now ahead of a very interesting match. Anything other than a Arsenal win would be a massive shock, but the Gunners were eliminated from both cup competitions by lower league opposition last season. Surely they won't be on the end of such fate again this year.
KICKOFF: Coventry get us underway at the Emirates. Can they pull off a memorable cup upset tonight or will Arsenal's formidable form continue?
As expected, Arsenal have taken control of the ball early on and are just knocking it about comfortably inside the Coventry half. The visitors will have to get used to doing a lot of chasing today.
Wilshere is given far too much space on the edge of the area as Coventry don't react to a short corner quickly enough. He winds up and goes for goal, but slices his effort and sends the shot well wide. He should have done better there, he had plenty of time.
Coventry are getting all 11 players behind the ball when Arsenal have possession and rarely risk putting a player in the hosts' half. Their game plan seems to be pretty clear, the question now is whether Arsenal to find a way through them.
Tonight is a big night for OXlade-Chamberlain, who is making his first start since the opening day of the season. He will still have hopes of making the England squad for the World Cup, so will be eager to impress tonight.
CHANCE! The best of the match so far falls to the hosts as Jenkinson whips a good ball into the area that Podolski connects with but can't keep down from close range. The German is disappointed in that finish, and so he should be.
Arsenal are beginning to look ominous now. They are playing lots of passes in and around the Coventry area, patiently probing for an opening. Coventry are just about holding firm so far, but you have to doubt their ability to do so for the entire 90 minutes. Arsenal's chance will come.
Coventry are defending so deep, they are simply inviting more pressure on themselves. The area is crowded, though, so Arsenal have been limited largely to long-range efforts at the moment. The latest comes from Oxlade-Chamberlain, who blasts a half-volley well over the bar.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Coventry (Lukas Podolski)
Well, you can't say that it hasn't been coming. The goal actually comes after Coventry had their best spell of possession in the match. They eventually gave it away, however, and the hosts came pouring forward in numbers. Ozil slipped the ball inside the full-back for Podolski, who showed good composure to round the keeper and slide it into an empty net from a tight angle.
Straight away, the match falls back into the familiar rhythm of Arsenal dominating possession and Coventry chasing shadows. It is hard to see Coventry getting back into this one.
SAVE! Superb play from Baker as he runs a good 40 yards and twists and turns his way past Mertesacker to create space to shoot. He eventually unleashes a powerful effort from range that Fabianki is at full stretch to tip over the bar with one hand. Very good effort, and an equally good save.
That was the best moment in the match for Coventry so far, and it seems to have given them a little boost. They have not made many forays into the Arsenal half so far but are coming forward with a little more regularity now.
A quick Arsenal break almost creates another goalscoring chance, but Bendtner headed Gibbs's cross towards goal when Ozil was waiting behind him for the volley. You can't blame the striker for going for it himself, but he may have been better suited leaving it for his teammate.
Bendtner goes for goal again, this time from the edge of the box, but his effort is well blocked. Once again, he had teammates in good positions there and this time he can't use the excuse of not seeing them. That was selfish.
Good play from Gnabry as he lines up his marker, throws a step-over and cuts inside into a good shooting position. He goes for goal with his weaker left foot and sends his effort high and wide, but it was positive play from the youngster.
The pressure from Arsenal is relentless here and it has been since the start of the match. Coventry are defending admirably, but surely it won't be long before the Gunners extended their lead.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Coventry (Lukas Podolski)
What was I just saying? Arsenal double their lead and it is all too easy for them as Per Mertesacker flicks the ball on from a corner at the front post for his compatriot Podolski to nod home at the far post. That is two for Arsenal, two for Podolski, and too far for Coventry to recover from.
You sense that this could be anything Arsenal want it to. They are in complete control of the match and seem to be playing through the visitors at will.
Bendtner won't want to see that one again. He takes an Ozil pass well on the edge of the box before spinning and swinging a leg at it, no doubt with visions of the ball flying into the top corner. However, he completely misses the ball and it rolls on to Gnabry, who fires a tame effort right at the keeper.
The Coventry fans all raise white pieces of paper with the word 'Why?' on in their pre-planned protest against having to play their home games so far away from their own city. The Arsenal fans respond by applauding the Coventry fans, which is good to see.
Very nearly a lovely piece of play from the hosts as Oxlade-Chamberlain threads a pass through the eye of the needle for Gibbs. His first touch takes him past the last defender, but it is just too heavy and the keeper comes out to collect.
CHANCE! Another chance for the hosts as Gibbs whips a peach of a delivery into the box. Two Arsenal players go for it and only serve to get in each other's way as Gnabry volleys high and wide under pressure from Jenkinson.
Wilshere picks out a clever run from Bendtner, who in turn plays a pass inside to Jenkinson bursting into the box. He takes his man on before flashing an effort right across the face of goal.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Podolski, who should have his hat-trick. The attack comes down the right flank once again as Jenkinson plays a low pass into the area. Podolski collects it while coming in from the left, but he sends his effort high over the bar on his weaker right foot.
YELLOW CARD! Jack Wilshere becomes the first man in the referee's notebook, and he can't have too many complaints about that one.
Much more worryingly for Arsenal, Wilshere has now gone down after a jarring challenge from Christie. It was a fair tackle, but he went down immediately when trying to put weight on his right leg.
He is now back up on his feet and limping off for treatment, but it looks like he will be able to continue. Wenger would have feared the worst there given Wilshere's injury record, but it doesn't appear to be as serious as it first looked.
Meanwhile, we have a floodlight failure in the stadium! The match continues despite the darker conditions, although the referee is now calling over the two captains and having a word. It is still playable, so we won't be seeing an abandonment here. The fans are holding up their phones to try to provide that little extra light in the stadium.
Wilshere drives forward from midfield and sees his attempted pass fall back to him on the edge of the box. He goes for goal first time, but drags his effort badly wide.
There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: Arsenal 2-0 Coventry City
So far, so good for Arsenal. Referee Robert Madley brings an end to a very comfortable half for the hosts and they look for all the world as if they will cruise into the fifth round of the FA Cup. It is 2-0 at the break but, in truth, it could have been more for Arsenal, who have had things all their own way so far.
The goals both came from Lukas Podolski, who could have had a first-half hat-trick had he kept his composure on a couple of other occasions. His first goal came after he was released by a pass from Ozil, rounding the keeper and squeezing his effort into the open goal from a tight angle. His second came 12 minutes later when he nodded home from close range after Per Mertesacker had flicked the ball on at the front post.
In truth, Coventry have barely had a kick in this one so far. Leon Clarke was likely to be at the centre of anything they did in an attacking sense, but he has seen very little of the ball so far as Arsenal dominate possession. It really is hard to see where Coventry might get a goal from this evening.
The only time that they have threatened was a piece of individual quality from Baker as he ran half the length of the field, beating players on the way before testing Fabianski with a fine long-range effort. It took a really good save from the Arsenal keeper to deny the Coventry captain, but otherwise Fabianski has had nothing to do.
The Gunners, meanwhile, have had plenty of chances and I would be very surprised if they failed to add to their lead in the second half. They are likely to take their foot off the pedal a little, but they will still control the ball and create more chances. It has been a long evening for Coventry already, and I fear that it will only get longer for them.
The gulf in class was clear for all to see in that first half. There can be no faulting Coventry's work rate as they have tirelessly chased the ball while Arsenal have been in possession, but fatigue will start to settle in during the second half and more gaps in the defence will begin to open.
UPDATE: There is one other FA Cup fixture taking place tonight, but it remains goalless between Nottingham Forest and Preston so far. That one has just gone into half time.
KICKOFF: Arsenal get us back underway at the Emirates. They will be hoping for a similarly comfortable second half here. Can Coventry change that?
Coventry are gifted an early corner after a poor piece of control by Fabianski. Like any good keeper, he blames his defence for the error, but that was all down to him. He gets away with it, however, as the initial corner is poor and the back-up cross is well collected by the Arsenal keeper.
Coventry are pushing a little further up the pitch now and showing a bit more attacking intent. I'm not sure how long that will last for, but they will be fully aware of how quickly Arsenal can break.
CHANCE! Big chance for the visitors to get themselves back into this match! Clarke races beyond the high Arsenal line and is onside as he bears down on goal with only the keeper to beat. He takes an age to get his shot away, however, eventually forcing himself too far wide and seeing his shot saved by Fabianski. That was a real waste of a golden opportunity.
Perhaps I was doing Clarke a bit of a disservice there, he was under pressure from Koscielny when he eventually got into the box, so couldn't have done much more than he did do. It was a good stop from Fabianski, too. Clarke seems to have picked up an injury during that miss as well, and he may not be able to continue here.
Clarke does trot back onto the field, so it looks like he will continue. Pressley will keep a close eye on him for the next few minutes, however, as he won't want to risk aggravating an injury in a game that is all but lost.
Oxlade-Chamberlain bursts into the box and is shoulder to shoulder with Christie before being bundled over. The home fans appeal for a penalty, but Madley correctly waves it away. There was a bit of a push from Christie, but not enough to give away a spot kick.
OFF THE POST! Coventry are really beginning to ask questions now! Moussa does well as he works his way across the area before laying the ball off for Clarke on the edge of the box. He looks to place an effort into the corner, but his striker smacks against the post. That was inches away from being 2-1.
This has been a much improved second half performance from Coventry so far. They aren't giving Arsenal as much space and time in possession and are actually beginning to get some tackles in - something that wasn't happening in the first half.
CHANCE! Good chance for Arsenal as Ozil makes his way into the box before cutting it back to Wilshere. He in turn feeds Bendtner, who takes his time to shoot before blazing an effort well wide.
CHANCE! The ball is slipped through to Podolski inside the box and he only has the keeper to beat but, instead of going for his hat-trick looks to cut it back for a teammate. His pass only finds a Coventry defender, however, and the danger is cleared.
The referee stops play in the middle of yet another Arsenal attack as we have a fan on the field. Wenger does not look impressed!
Arsenal could really do with another goal to kill this game off once and for all. It is unlikely that Coventry will get two goals back, but they have threatened a lot more in this second half and will fancy their chances if they can get one back soon.
Coventry come forward again and Fleck plays the ball out to Adams. The full-back tries to curl a shot into the far corner, but he gets it all wrong and sends it well wide. That was an ambitious effort for someone who is yet to score this season.
UPDATE: It remains goalless in the night's other FA Cup tie so far. They are in the 55th minute now and Nottingham Forest are still being held by Preston. That would be a big result for Preston, who eliminated Ipswich in the last round.
ARSENAL SUBS: Double change for the hosts as Bendtner makes way to be replaced by Santi Cazorla, while Gideon Zelalem comes on for his debut in place of Oxlade-Chamberlain. Zelalem is the first player to make his Arsenal debut having been born after Wenger took charge of the club.
It will be interesting to see how Zelalem gets on in the next 20 minutes or so in this match. He is very highly rated at the Emirates and fans have been waiting a while to see him make his debut.
Everything seems to open up for Coventry as Christie finds himself in acres of space on the right flank. He is unwilling to shoot from a tight angle and doesn't have a lot of support, so the attack eventually breaks down when he looks for Clarke with a square pass.
The visitors are seeing a lot more of the ball now as Arsenal begin to sit off a little and play more conservatively to protect their two-goal lead. Time is running out for Coventry, and you get the feeling that it is now or never for Pressley's side.
ARSENAL SUB: Podolski won't be getting his hat-trick this evening. He makes way to be replaced by Olivier Giroud for the final 10 minutes or so.
It was been a professional performance from Arsenal so far this evening. They haven't had things all their own way in this second half and have ridden their luck at times - such as Clarke's effort that came off the post - but there is no doubt that they deserve to be leading.
Christie makes a marauding run down the right flank, beating Ozil for pace before sending a low cross into the box that earns his side a corner. However, the set piece comes to nothing as Coventry concede a free kick.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Coventry (Olivier Giroud)
There is the game for Arsenal, and it is the sub who gets the goal. Gibbs makes his way down the left channel before pulling the ball back to Giroud, who drills an effort low into the bottom corner first time. Any slim hopes of a Coventry comeback are now gone.
Fleck goes for goal from a long way out and the ball goes flying high over the bar and into the away fans behind the goal. They keep the ball, leaving Fabianski looking hopelessly up at the stands before being supplied with a replacement.
CHANCE! Good chance for Cazorla to make it 4-0 to the Gunners late on. Seaborne gets a touch on a Jenkinson cross but that only takes it to Cazorla at the back post. He goes for a first-time half volley but hammers it just over the bar.
COVENTRY SUB: The visitors make a change late on as Moussa makes way to be replaced by Jordan Clarke.
GOAL! Arsenal 4-0 Coventry (Santi Cazorla)
Cazorla caps off the scoring for the hosts, volleying a rebound into an open net after Murphy had made a good save from the initial effort. It came at the end of a really good move from Arsenal, but it must be said that 4-0 is harsh on Coventry, who have been good in the second half.
We will have four minutes of added time at the end of this match.
CHANCE! Leon Clarke has another really good chance to get himself on the scoresheet tonight, but again his finish is lacking. Christie does well to bundle the ball to him from the edge of the box. Clarke has time and space to take a touch and pick his spot, but instead he goes for goal first time, sending a tame effort into the arms of the keeper. That is three good chances that he has squandered this evening.
OFF THE POST! It should be 5-0 to the hosts. Coventry live dangerously by trying to play their way out from the back and give the ball away to Ozil, of all people. The German tries to pass an effort into the bottom corner, but his shot kisses the outside the post on its way behind.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 4-0 Coventry City
Arsenal become the first name in the hat for the FA Cup fifth round as Robert Madley blows his whistle for the final time in tonight's match. The Gunners cruised past Coventry, although it wasn't always as easy as the 4-0 final score suggests, with the visitors threatening more in the second half and even hitting the post before two late goals for the hosts put a gloss on their deserved victory.
Arsenal dominated the first half from start to finish and took a two-goal lead into the interval courtesy of a Lukas Podolski brace. It could have been more for Wenger's side, and for Podolski himself, but they were a little wasteful in front of goal at times. Leon Clarke squandered three good chances for Coventry in the second half, two of which came before late goals from Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla sealed things for the Gunners.
Steven Pressley will be proud of his side's effort in the second half, and 4-0 is a little harsh on Coventry. They looked in trouble at half time but refused to surrender and, on another day, may have got themselves back into the match. Still, better sides than them have been beaten at the Emirates this season, so he won't feel too downhearted.
Right, that's all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was an entertaining FA Cup fourth-round tie between Arsenal and Coventry. As expected, it is the Gunners who progress into the next round courtesy of a 4-0 win, although Coventry certainly had their moments. Stick around for our match report, and be sure to check back in for plenty more FA Cup action tomorrow night. Until then, though, it is goodbye from me!
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
