Coventry City might have lost 4-0, but the 5,000 Sky Blues fans who travelled to North London can be proud of their team’s spirited performance. Arsenal went into the match top of the Premier League by one point, and were the overwhelming favourites against Coventry side struggling financially, and midtable in League One.
Still, Arsene Wenger was keen not to underestimate their lower league opponents. Mertesacker, Koscielny, Wilshere, Ozil and Podolski all started, while Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud were both brought on in the latter stages.
Stephen Pressley said before the match that he wanted his team to play with boldness and audacity, but apprehension set in during the opening stages, as Arsenal saw lots of the ball. Some slick one touch passing down the right from the Gunners gave them a corner, after which Jack Wilshere shot wide from range.
Arsenal dictated possession with a typically patient approach. They had their first main chance less than ten minutes in, as a cross from Carl Jenkinson found Podolski at the back post, who failed to make the right contact. That incident summed up the first half in some respects. Carl Jenkinson played a key role in Arsenal’s attacks down the right, with Serge Gnabry or Mesut Ozil coming short to offer him support.
Such was Arsenal’s dominance that, when the visitors once strung a brief series of passes together, Coventry fans gave humorous cheers for every touch of the ball. That minute’s spell for Coventry came to an abrupt end though, as Arsenal found the opening goal. Some closing down from Wilshere caught a defender dallying on the ball, and Ozil’s pass found Lukas Podolski, who finished coolly.
Only one team in League One has scored more goals than Coventry this season, and the Sky Blues had their moment of the first half, thanks to Carl Baker. The midfielder made an energetic, attacking run forward, he beat two or three men, and forced a splendid save from Lukas Fabianski. The Pole needed to be on his toes after having had little to do until that point.
The moment seemed to give Coventry inspiration for the rest of the match, at least in an attacking sense, as they played some very entertaining football. For Arsenal, Serge Gnabry looked lively and keen to get into the game, and although his finishing left a little to be desired, he looks a player of potential for the London club.
Podolski scored Arsenal’s second, and the match seemed to be becoming very one-sided. The Gunners used Per Mertesacker’s height to their advantage, as he flicked on Chamberlains corner at the near post, and Podolski headed home.
During the 35th minute, the Coventry fans all held up paper signs reading: WHY? It was regarding the control of their club, as the owners have forced them to play their home games at Northampton Town’s ground, 35 miles away, hence the timing.
Just as Arsenal were looking comfortable, there was a nervy moment for all concerned with the England team, and our chances at the World Cup this summer. The rather injury-prone Jack Wilshere picked up a knock, after a strong challenge. Thankfully, he was okay to continue, and was back involved in play, with a shot from him dragged wide shortly before half-time.
There was still time for the ‘unusual moment of the game’ before the break, when a few lights went out, making the place slightly darker. Coventry fans showed their sense of humour again, lighting up the place with the torch app on their phone. Arsenal fans joined in, creating an iconic, pretty scene, just as the half-time whistle was blown with the match at 2-0. Coventry had to work hard to keep the scoreline down, with Arsenal dominating at this point, and they had done quite well to avoid further scathing.
You could be forgiven for thinking that at the beginning of the second half, Arsenal would be able to slow the tempo down and ensure a long spell of possession. In fact, Coventry got off to a more positive start and showed signs of promise, pressing Arsenal a lot higher up the pitch than in the first half.
They had a corner in the opening ninety seconds, albeit a disappointing delivery. The Sky Blues have benefitted two of the top scoring strikers in the football league in their squad, as Callum Wilson and Leon Clarke have scored a combined total of twenty-nine league goals this season. With the former out injured, the latter will feel a niggling sense of remorse at not having scored early in the second half. Clarke was feeding on scraps beforehand, but after the interval, he had a number of presentable opportunities. Cutting inside from the right on a breakaway, his shot had plenty of power, but did not have enough direction to test Lukas Fabianski. Shortly afterwards, another effort from the journeyman striker, who has been targeted by Wolves recently, clipped the outside of the post, after excellent work from Franck Moussa.
If it was any consolation for him, fellow striker Nicklas Bendtner was having a poor game. He contributed little in build-up play, preferring to sniff out chances in the box, yet the chances that did come his way he missed. The Dane fired the ball over from close range, after another passing move from Arsenal.
After that chance, Coventry continued to show impressive signs of revival, and looked more than capable of at least getting themselves onto the scoreboard. Just as Carl Jenkinson had been a key attacking right-back for Arsenal in the first half, Cyrus Christie was that for Coventry in the second. The youngster, one of eight academy graduates in Coventry’s matchday squad, showed a willingness to break forward. His crossing was not always the best, but most of Coventry’s attacking play came through him down the right side.
Another academy graduate took to the stage, this time from Arsenal’s quarters. 16-year-old Gidion Zelalem was given a run out, and made history as the first player making their Arsenal debut, to be born after Arsene Wenger took charge in 1996. With Coventry coming to the fore at this point, it was a fairly brave move from the old Frenchman.
Coventry had lost just one of their last eleven games before this match, but any hopes of them improving that record were dashed in the closing stages. Arsenal got their third, thanks to a contribution from two of ‘Le Professeurs’ substitutes. Olivier Giroud grabbed a simple goal with a tap in after coming on, it was a short lay-off from fellow-sub Cazorla which helped create space, but most of the credit must go to left-back Kieran Gibbs for his expertly drilled cross.
Having worked hard for so much of the match, Coventry were now suffering from tired legs and were battling to keep the scoreline down to just three. Jenkinson added to a positive evening from his point of view with a well-timed cross for Cazorla, who volleyed over at the back post, and perhaps could have kept it down.
The Spaniard, who has not been so influential in his second season at the Emirates, would quickly redeem himself for the miss. After some more intricate, one-touch build up play from Arsenal, Cazorla hit a fierce shot at the ground, which bounced upwards on its’ way in. In injury time, there was still time for Mesut Ozil to hit the post, in a big win for the hosts.
The 4-0 scoreline was a touch harsh on Coventry, who had put in a big effort for most of the match, and deserve credit for the way they attacked in the second half. They have already beaten Championship opposition in Barnsley this season, and despite a ten point deduction this summer and having a rapidly changing squad, they are still eight points above the relegation zone in League One. However, they face the possibility of losing their key players, such as Leon Clarke, in the remainder of the January window. Arsenal are now into the fifth round, which might provide an intriguing examination of Wenger’s squad rotation strategy. Next month, they will now due to play Liverpool, Manchester United, the FA Cup fifth round match and Bayern Munich in the space of eleven days. Challenging times lie ahead for both clubs.