Podolski brace helps Arsenal through to next round

Arsenal safely made it through to the fifth round of the FA Cup thanks to a 4-0 win over Coventry on Friday night. The Gunners put in a comfortable performance against the League One opposition as goals from Podolski, Giroud and Cazorla were enough on a wet and windy night in North London. It wasn't the most convincing of displays and despite the huge amount of chances we created, 4-0 perhaps slightly flattered us. Coventry put in a strong fight and were unlucky to not get themselves on the score-sheet. The line-up was much stronger than predicted as there were a few changes from our strong defensive line in the win over Fulham. Jenkinson came in for Sagna whilst Gibbs replaced Monreal. Szczesny was rested so Fabianski was in goal. Mesut Ozil was a surprise inclusion as Nicklas Bendtner returned from injury and Oxlade-Chamberlain made his first start after injury.

Lukas Podolski scored twice as Arsenal beat Coventry

We started off very brightly and had plenty of possession and it was only a matter of time before we broke the deadlock quarter of an hour in. Mesut Ozil broke through the middle and found Podolski who fainted his way past the keeper before sliding the ball home. It was the pairings first goal where they've combined with each other this season. Something we have been looking so forward to seeing since Ozil arrived. Podolski also got the second and it was another German who provided the assist. Serge Gnabry's floated corner was flicked on by Mertesacker and Podolski found the goal with his head at the back post. Podolski has been restricted in his game time since returning from injury but his two goals on Friday night sent out a real message to Wenger to start him more often.

We then had to wait until the final ten minutes before another goal was to arrive. Olivier Giroud came off the bench and rifled home from a Kieran Gibbs cut back. Santi Cazorla also came off the bench and notched his fourth goal of 2014 with a minute left. Jenkinson's shot was parried straight into the path of the Spaniard who couldn't miss. It was a relief to finally see Jenkinson involved in a goal. He had effectively played as a right winger for the majority of the match and there were numerous occasions where either his crosses were wasteful or no one got on the end of it. As for his defensive side of the game, he wasn't really tested.

Overall defensively though we were tested more than we would've liked to have been. Coventry didn't pose much of a threat in the first half but Fabianski was tested extensively when Baker tried an effort from range but the Polish keeper made a great safe to keep Arsenal in front. As for the second half, our defence had a lot more to do. Leon Clarke had two great chances, one that Fabianski got down well to save whilst the other smashed against the post. You have to give credit the to visitors who certainly came out fighting.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain played in the centre of midfield in his first start back from injury and he was very rusty, a few stray passes here and there led to our overall performance being hindered. Jack Wilshere though, continued to impress beside him. Mesut Ozil grabbed an assist and could've made it five in the dying embers of the game but struck the post. Serge Gnabry had a much quieter game than he's had recently but still showed signs of how much of a prospect he is. Meanwhile, there was a first Arsenal appearance for 16 year old Gedion Zelalem. He's been talked of a lot this season and it was great to finally see him being given his first team debut. Zelalem became the first player to play under Arsene Wenger having been born after the boss took charge of Arsenal. A quite incredible stat.

So, into the hat we go for the fifth round draw which takes place on Sunday afternoon. Not even a floodlight failure and a pitch invader managed to stop us in our tracks as our quest for the FA Cup continues. Focusing on our next game though, we have Southampton away on Tuesday night. Southampton haven't been in the best of form of late, but considering their form at the start of the season where we know they can perform against the big teams, it won't be an easy game.

The teams line-ups:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain(71), Gnabry, Ozil, Podolski(79), Bendtner(71).
Subs: Viviano, Sagna, Monreal, Flamini, Zelalem(71), Cazorla(71), Giroud(79).

Coventry: Murphy, Christie, Adams, Thomas, Webster, Seaborne, Baker, Fleck, Clarke, Moussa(88), Daniels. 
Subs: Slager, Burge, Barton, Phillips, Willis, Clarke(88), Haynes. 

My man of the match: Lukas Podolski.

Referee: Robert Madley.
Attendance: 59,451.

Giroud scores first goal as youngsters shine in Cup

Olivier Giroud scored his first Arsenal goal as a mix of youth and experience thrashed Coventry in the third round of the League Cup at the Emirates on Wednesday night. The Frenchman later went on to miss a penalty but set up Andrey Arshavin for his goal. Oxlade-Chamberlain was Arsenal's brightest player going forward in the first half and then scored a brilliant goal outside the box in the second half. On the other wing, Theo Walcott was fairly quiet until the second half when he slid home two confident finishes. Meanwhile the youngsters played very well. Francis Coquelin held the midfield together with Nico Yennaris. Ignasi Miquel was brilliant at centre back, was confident with bringing the ball out of defence and even scored a well placed header late on in the game. 17 year old German, Serge Gnabry, came off the bench and looked very lively whilst Emmanuel Frimpong also returned from injury and got a standing ovation when he came on. Gnabry was one of three teenagers who got their first team debuts as Martin Angha started at right back and was fairly solid whilst Damian Martinez was in goal but didn't have that much to do.


Arsenal easily saw off Coventry in the third round of the cup

The first chance of the game fell Coventry's way as Angha was beaten easily before a cross was played onto the head of Barton but the ball bounced wide of the goal.

Just after the half hour mark Martin Angha had a decent chance as the ball bobbled out to him just inside the box but he sliced his shot wide.

Giroud then came close as Coquelin found him on the edge of the penalty area before striking a shot with his weaker foot which found the arms of Murphy in the Coventry goal.

5 minutes before the break Arsenal took the lead. Coquelin was once again the provider as he poked
the ball through to Giroud who got into the penalty box before dinking the ball over the keeper for his first goal in Arsenal colours.

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

Just after the break, Arsenal immediately had the chance to go 2-0 up as Arshavin was brought down in the box and a penalty was given. Olivier Giroud stepped up to take the penalty and he slotted the ball towards the right hand corner but Murphy made a great save to deny Giroud.

From the resulting corner the miss was almost forgotten as Miquel saw his header hit the crossbar.

Arsenal then did manage to find a second as Arshavin layed the ball off to Oxlade-Chamberlain who smashed a strike from range which swerved before beating Murphy and finding the back of the net.

A few minutes after the hour mark, Arsenal went 3-0 up. Giroud was played through and then he found Arshavin who took one touch before poking the ball past the goalkeeper to extend the lead.

Johan Djourou, skipper for the night, almost got in on the act as he got onto the end of Arshavin's corner but Murphy kept him out from close range.

It wasn't long before the Gunners added a fourth. Nico Yennaris played in Walcott down the right who got into the penalty area before firing the ball into the far corner of the goal.

Coventry then finally got themselves on the scoresheet. Baker swung in a great delivery from the right hand side into the path of Ball who tapped home 8 yards out.

It was a game full of chances and there was no surprise that Arsenal added yet another goal. Arshavin crossed the ball in which found Ignasi Miquel who headed the ball into the back of the net.

A minute from the end of the game there was a sixth goal for Arsenal and a second for Theo Walcott. Walcott managed to take the ball past one man before galloping down the left hand side and then into the penalty area before finding the net.

The final score finished Arsenal 6-1 Coventry.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Martinez, Angha, Djourou, Miquel, Santos, Yennaris, Coquelin(73), Arshavin, Walcott, Giroud(73), Oxlade-Chamberlain(73).
Subs: Shea, Squillaci, Bellerin, Frimpong(73), Eisfeld, Gnabry(73), Chamakh(73).

Coventry: Murphy, Clarke, Wood, Reckford, Brown, Baker, McSheffrey, Barton, Moussa(60), Bailey, Elliot(70).
Subs: Dunn, Hussey, Daniels, Ball(70), Edjenguele, McDonald, Fleck(60).

My man of the match: Ignasi Miquel

Referee: Michael Jones
Attendance: 58,351