Arsenal crash out of cup on penalties

Arsenal got knocked out of the Capital One Cup last Tuesday as the Gunners slipped to a 3-2 defeat on penalties to league 2 opposition Bradford City. It was an extremely embarrasing and disappointing loss for Arsenal as despite fielding their strongest lineup with a few exceptions it was enough as Vermaelen equalised late on but the Gunners were no match for the lower league side as they won their ninth penalty shoot out in a row this season.

Arsenal were knocked out of the League cup on penalties

The first chance of the game fell Bradford's way as Wells beat Vermaelen to the ball and ran towards the edge of the penalty area before hitting a shot which Szczesny kept out.

Arsenal's first chance came from a set-piece as Cazorla's corner found Vermaelen but he headed over the bar.

Lukas Podolski then had a brilliant opportunity to break the dead lock as Wilshere found him on the penalty spot but once again the header went over.

Bradford then had a set-piece of their own and they took full advantage of it as the ball was flicked on from the free-kick into Thompson who volleyed the ball past Szczesny for an unexpected lead.

Just after the half hour mark Kieran Gibbs got forward from left back and hit a fizzing volley which went just past the post.

Arsenal were having plenty of chances and they then struck the upright as Coquelin managed to weave his way past two players before hitting a shot which hit the post and came back out. The ball was then played back in by Sagna but Cazorla's effort was driven over the bar.

Four minutes before the break the best chance of the match was wasted by Gervinho. Podolski found Gibbs who then fired the ball across goal and into the Ivorian but somehow he missed from 3 yards out.

Moments before half time Wells had a great chance to extend Bradford's lead as he managed to turn past Vermaelen before sending the ball inches wide of the post.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Bradford.

The first good chance of the second half fell to Oxlade-Chamberlain as the ball was layed off to him on the edge of the area but the ball was beaten away by the goalkeeper.

Jack Wilshere was proving to be the Gunners most influential player and then managed to work a shot off from the edge of the penalty box having just glided past two Bradford players but the ball was once again kept out.

With 3 minutes left to play Arsenal finally found the goal they had been looking for. Cazorla's cross found Vermaelen at the back post and he headed home for the equaliser.

In the dying moments of the second half Cazorla had two great efforts saved as first his free-kick was beaten away and then from Rosicky's cleared cross Duke kept the Spaniard out once more.

The score after 90 minutes was 1-1.

At the start of extra-time Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had two efforts on goal but they were both heroically blocked by Bradford defenders as the Gunners desperately looked for that winning goal.

Just as Gibbs had done in the first half he was once allowed to get down the left hand side. This time the shot troubled the goalkeeper more though as Duke had to put the ball out for a corner.

Arsenal then provided a good chance from a corner as Cazorla found Chamakh at the near post but his glancing header went wide.

Cazorla then created a chance for himself as he cut inside and then hit a swerving shot with his left foot which crashed against the crossbar.

The game was to go into penalties as the score finished level after extra time. Bradford were to win the shootout 3-2 following missed Arsenal penalties from Cazorla, Chamakh and Vermaelen.

The teams lineups:

Bradford: Duke, Darby, Meredith, McHugh, McArdle, Thompson(72), Atkinson(92), Doyle, Jones, Hanson, Wells(74).
Subs: McLaughlin, Turgott(92), Good, Ravenhill, Jones(72), Connell(74), Hines.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Coquelin(60), Wilshere, Cazorla, Ramsey(69), Podolski(69), Gervinho.
Subs: Mannone, Jenkinson, Squillaci, Arteta, Rosicky(69), Oxlade-Chamberlain(69), Chamakh(60).

My man of the match: Jack Wilshere

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 23,971