Arsenal 4-0 Coventry City: Gunners simply too strong to be upset

Goals:

Arsenal-Podolski 15′ 27′, Giroud 84′, Cazorla 89′

Lineups:

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

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

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Arsenal were in cruise control to claim their spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Friday. Arsene Wenger named a strong squad to face the League One side at the Emirates, and the difference in quality was apparent from kickoff.

The Gunners killed Coventry with their relentless passing until acceptable chances were created. Lukas Podolski did this job, scoring twice in the first half to the delight of the Arsenal crowd.

Fifteen minutes in, Mesut Özil fit a beautiful pass into the path of his fellow German, who glided past Coventry keeper Joe Murphy and opened the scoring from a narrow angle.

In the twenty seventh minute, Podolski struck again, courtesy of the German national team.  A corner from Serge Gnabry was glanced onward by Per Mertesacker to Podolski, who tucked in a second goal.

The German has routinely shown his importance to the depth of the Arsenal squad, especially up front. He now has more goals (five) than starts (four) this season. Of Podolski’s night, Arsene Wenger was very pleased: “When there is a goal chance you want him to have it. He’s a clinical finisher, very accurate.’’

Arsenal were not done there, however. After the restart, the match turned somewhat to a lull, with the antics of Coventry fans in the visiting sections protesting their owner, Susi, moving their home ground 35 miles outside Coventry more exciting than actions on the pitch.

In the eighty fourth minute, however, Olivier Giroud truly killed the match. The Frenchman struck, followed by a Santi Cazorla goal one minute from time.

Arsenal’s showing proved there is a true motivation to succeed in this tournament. Ten minutes after the final whistle, Ozil’s twitter account affirmed as much:

The Gunners have drawn Liverpool at home in the fifth round, a match during a busy time period that will test Arsene Wenger to balance his ambitions in the Barclays Premier League with a true devotion to succeed in the FA Cup.