ARSENAL 6-1 COVENTRY CITY
CAPITAL CUP ROUND THREE 26/09/12 at The Emirates Stadium, London
City: Murphy, Clarke, Wood, Bailey, Reckord, Baker (c), McSheffrey, Moussa,(Fleck 60), Baker, Barton, Elliott (Ball 69). Subs: Dunn (GK), Hussey, Edjenguele, Daniels
Arsenal: Martinez, Santos, Giroud (Chamakh 72), Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Gnabry 72), Djourou (c), Coquelin (Frimpong 72), Arshavin, Angha, Miquel, Yennaris. Subs: Shea (GK), Squillaci, Bellerin, Eisfeld,
HT AFC 1-0 CCFC FT AFC 1-6 CCFC ATT 58,351
Goals Oliver Giroud 38, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 60, Andry Ashavin 63, Callum Ball, Ignasi Miguel 80,Theo Walcott 74,89.
Referee Mike Jones
Man Of The Match - Franck Moussa took the votes in our car ahead of Baker and Reckord.
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Coventry City Manager Mark Robins praised the City support for buying so many tickets for a League Cup and the City support backed a City team which lost 6-1 at Arsenal to the hilt.
Unfortunately, days where the Sky Blues get to visit such a superb stadium which did not cost that much more than the Ricoh Arena, are now few and far between and trips such as this to Arsenal must be relished and relished it was.
Around 8,000 City fans made their way to the Emirates with a good number of home and away fans missing the kick off due to overcrowding at the turnstiles.
Mark Robins included loanees Jamie Bailey and Jamie Reckord in his starting eleven along with short term Franck Moussa against an Arsenal side, vastly changed from their draw at Manchester City but one, which still boasted a number of internationals.
As some but not all the spaces in a stadium which was declared a sell out, got into the ground, City worked well, matching the home side in all departments and even fashioning a chance in the ninth minute through Stephen Elliott and Adam Barton firing over from 25 yards in the 17th minute.
There was no negativity from the City supporters as there are for some home games and the City supporters, who were clearly enjoying the occasions, were bantering the Arsenal fans with a song about the departed Robin Van Persie, before Arsenal who were now playing some quality football, raised the tempo.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Yemmaris and Miguel all had chances before Wood planted a header from a free kick over.
Then in the 38th minute, the City defence was undone and Oliver Giroud who had missed one good chance, raced through and slotted the ball past Murphy for the opening goal.
This briefly brought the Arsenal fans to life and they were on their feet three minutes into the second half when referee Mr Jones awarded them a penalty.
Now at the Clock End, two streakers, one in boxers, invaded the pitch and cavorted around, delaying Giroud's kick for at least two minutes.
When the kick was taken, Joe Murphy dived to his right and pushed the spot kick wide for a corner which Coquelin headed onto the bar.
Wood sent another header over from a free kick but in the 56th minute, Arsenal went two goals up, thanks to Alex Oxlade Chamberlain rocketing home a right footed twenty five yarder.
Robins sent on John Fleck on the hour mark for Moussa who had impressed on his debut and the former Rangers man had only been on the pitch for three minutes when meerkat lookalike Andry Arshavin played a neat one two and scored with aplomb.
Joe Murphy made a terrific save to stop a diving header. McSheffrey broke at the other end but blasted high in to the stand before Robins made a second change when Callum Ball came on for Stephen Elliott.
Arsene Wenger did the same making a treble change and his three changes were celebrating a fourth goal when Theo Walcott made the most of a through ball and scored in the 74th minute.
Callum Ball fired and Baker curled a free kick as City went for the goal they deserved and the one the City support wanted to make their night
And in the 78th minute, the away end was going absolutely ballistic when a brilliant ball over by Carl Baker fell for the unmarked Callum Ball to stroke home from seven yards.
We were still celebrating and bantering with the Arsenal fans either side of us that many took no notice of Ignasi Miguel adding a fifth with a header.
City kept going with the hard working Jordan Clarke fired just over.
However, the classy Theo Walcott had the last say when he broke through a City defence which like the rest of the team had given their all and beat Murphy with a low shot to give Arsenal a 6-1 victory and end City's Capital One Cup hopes for another season.
Thanks to Carl from the picture