It was a few minutes before half-time when the floodlights partially failed and the teams played on in the gloom, supported by the twinkling fairy lights from thousands of mobile phones held up by supporters.
The FA Cup may have lost a little sparkle but last night the atmosphere at the Emirates had the flavour of a soft-rock stadium tour.
No surprise then that the Germans were in their element. Lukas Podolski scored twice before the break to crush Coventry’s dream of an upset, with his first created by Mesut Ozil and his second assisted by Per Mertesacker, who flicked on Ozil’s corner.
Match winner: Lukas Podolski rounded the keeper to put Arsenal into an early lead at the Emirates Stadium
German delight: The forward's strike put the Gunner son their way to make the Fiifth Round of the FA Cup
Fist pump: Podolski punches the air after scoring
Substitutes Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla came on to grab two late goals, a cruel finish for the League One team after a spirited second-half revival faded and fatigue took hold when Arsene Wenger sent on fresh quality.
It may have been slightly different had Coventry’s Leon Clarke scored when he hit a post soon after the break. That would have pulled the score back to 2-1 but Arsenal always seemed destined to be the first team into the fifth round after Podolski’s double.
Wenger said: ‘We dropped the pace in the second half and in the last 20 minutes it became all us again because they were tired.’
Even without some of his senior players, there was no evidence of the frailties which haunted him in the knockout competitions last season. Having gone out of the Capital One Cup at the hands of League Two Bradford, Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup by Blackburn of the Championship.
This, however, is a different team in very different form, even if Nicklas Bendtner seemed out of sorts on his return from injury. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also started his first game since a serious knee injury, settling deep into midfield alongside Jack Wilshere. ‘That could be a good partnership in the future, for England as well,’ purred Wenger
At the double: Podolski made it two for him and the team with a back post header from a corner
Power: Olivier Giroud came on and finished off a nice move to add a third
Easy does it: The Frenchman winks at team-mates after his goal
At it again: Santi Cazorla roudned off the night in style with a fourth
A pass from Wilshere to Ozil unlocked Coventry after 15 minutes. Ozil took the ball on the turn and slid Podolski clear as he darted infield from the left. With his first touch, Podolski skipped beyond advancing goalkeeper Joe Murphy and guided the ball in from an angle.
The goal did not silence the fabulous travelling support behind Murphy’s goal and Carl Baker forced a save from Lukasz Fabianski after swerving past a sorry string of flimsy midfield challenges.
But then the Germans combined again. Mertesacker flicked on Ozil’s corner kick and Podolski eluded Billy Daniels to convert a simple header.
Coventry boss Steven Pressley was annoyed to concede from a set-piece but proud of his players and the fans, who seized their moment in the national spotlight to protest against the farcical ownership situation which has forced them out of their own city.
‘I’m exceptionally proud,’ said Pressley. ‘We showed bravery in possession and remained true to our principles.’
Blackout: Some of the floodlights at the Emirates Stadium failed at one point, so fans used their camera phones in an innovative way of lighting up the ground
Listen to their message: Coventry fans hold up signs to show their discontent with owners Sisu over not playing in their own stadium
Youngster: 16-year-old Gedion Zelalem made history, he is the first player born after Arsene Wenger to feature under the French boss
Job well done: Podolski posted a picture with Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gnabry and Jenkinson after the game
Podolski went close to completing a hat-trick before half-time but Coventry were revived after the interval, no doubt encouraged by some messy footwork from Fabianski in his own penalty area.
The Pole escaped unpunished and protected the clean sheet with a solid block when Clarke broke clear.
Much-travelled striker Clarke then guided a side-footer against the post from the edge of the box. He held his head. This was their chance.
They needed to strike here and convert their pressure into goals if they were to claw their way back. Baker produced a terrific cross from the right which dropped to Daniels, who took a touch and curled a shot wide.
Worry: England midfielder Jack Wilshere goes down under an innocuous challenge
Fierce: And he bites back with a challenge from behind
Strong side: £42.5million man Mesut Ozil battles with Leon Clarke (centre) and John Fleck (left) for possessio
Tactical differences: Arsene Wenger and Steven Pressley analyze the match from the touchline
They kept on the pressure even after the lone ‘SISU Out’ pitch invader had been and gone and Pressley cherished the second-half performance until Wenger sent on two international strikers and his latest wonderkid: Gedion Zelalem made his debut two days before his 17th birthday and became the first Arsenal player to have been born after Wenger arrived at the club in 1996.
Giroud slammed in the third left-footed from a cross by Kieran Gibbs six minutes from time and Cazorla completed the scoring with a volley after Murphy had pushed out a shot from Jenkinson. There was still time for Ozil to hit a post before it was lights out on Coventry.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Kindly share your view or contribution on this topic