Read a full match report of the Capital One Cup tie between Bradford City and Arsenal on Tuesday Dec 11 2012.
Not so long ago Arsenal's trophy misery was inflicted by the likes of Barcelona. Now they have their ambitions shattered by Bradford City.
Can things get much more humiliating than this for Arsène Wenger now that Bradford join Wrexham, FA Cup conquerors in 1992, in Arsenal’s chamber of horrors?
Forget the silverware drought, which is now set to enter its eighth year, and the boardroom promises that things will be great in two years’ time. The reality, the here and now, is that once mighty Arsenal will be on the outside, looking in, when League Two Bradford prepare for their Capital One Cup semi-final next month after bundling the Premier League club out of the competition penalties.
For the ninth successive time, Bradford emerged victorious from a penalty shoot-out after Thomas Vermaelen’s crucial spot-kick crashed against goalkeeper Matt Duke’s left-hand post.
Arsenal captain Vermaelen, whose 87th minute equaliser appeared to have spared the club from ignominy, was not the only villain for Wenger’s team.
Gervinho was hopeless for the entire 120 minutes, Arsenal’s back-four wobbled throughout and both Santi Cazorla and Marouane Chamakh were found wanting from 12 yards when they took their penalties in the shoot-out. Cazorla’s misfortune prompted West Bromwich Albion defender Steven Reid to tweet 'Karma’ within seconds of the miss — Reid clearly taking satisfaction from the Spaniard’s failure after conceding a penalty to what appeared to be the midfielder’s dive during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at the Emirates at the weekend.
The only shining lights for Arsenal were Jack Wilshere and substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, though how the injury-ravaged Wilshere will feel this morning after playing for two hours on a pitch that grew white with frost as the game progressed in sub-zero temperatures remains to be seen.
While Arsenal’s dismal performance will rightly lead to further questions over the direction the club is taking under Wenger and the board, it would be churlish to ignore Bradford’s achievement.
Currently fourth in the fourth tier, Phil Parkinson’s team attacked Arsenal from the outset, and, in captain Gary Jones, winger Nakhi Wells and goalkeeper Duke, possessed three of the night’s outstanding players.
With Valley Parade full for the first time since its redevelopment during Bradford’s Premier League days over a decade ago, there was a distinct mood of anticipation in the air as Wenger’s players warmed up on the frost-bitten pitch prior to the game.
Despite Bradford’s status, Wenger was clearly determined to leave no room for error and there were no half-measures, no risks taken in terms of team selection.
Yet Arsenal found themselves pinned back on the ropes by Bradford in the early stages.
In the fourth minute, when Wells escaped Vermaelen before being denied by Wojciech Szczesny, Bradford gave warning of their readiness to pull off a shock.
Bradford’s 16th minute goal, came as a result of a clumsy challenge by Vermaelen on Wells after the winger had drawn the Belgian out of the penalty area. Arsenal still had the chance to kill the danger by dealing with Jones’s free-kick, but the midfielder’s delivery flew through the six-yard box and went uncleared before Garry Thompson volleyed the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Francis Coquelin responded by rattling the post, but as the first-half drew to a close, it was Bradford who went closest to adding to the scoring with Wells tormenting Vermaelen again before sending a right-foot effort bobbling wide. Vermaelen looked to have saved Arsenal when he headed in Cazorla’s cross three minutes from time, but it merely delayed their humiliation.
Extra-time came and went it all boiled down to penalties. Szczesny saved from Stephen Darby and Ritchie Jones, with Cazorla hitting the post and Duke denying Chamakh, yet Vermaelen’s miss was the killer blow. That the goalkeeper survived an operation for testicular cancer four years ago only added to the story.
The final whistle left the Arsenal contingent to melt away into the cold Yorkshire night, contemplating if, rather than when, the nightmare run will ever end.
Source: The Telegraph
Gervinho was hopeless for the entire 120 minutes, Arsenal’s back-four wobbled throughout and both Santi Cazorla and Marouane Chamakh were found wanting from 12 yards when they took their penalties in the shoot-out. Cazorla’s misfortune prompted West Bromwich Albion defender Steven Reid to tweet 'Karma’ within seconds of the miss — Reid clearly taking satisfaction from the Spaniard’s failure after conceding a penalty to what appeared to be the midfielder’s dive during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at the Emirates at the weekend.
The only shining lights for Arsenal were Jack Wilshere and substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, though how the injury-ravaged Wilshere will feel this morning after playing for two hours on a pitch that grew white with frost as the game progressed in sub-zero temperatures remains to be seen.
While Arsenal’s dismal performance will rightly lead to further questions over the direction the club is taking under Wenger and the board, it would be churlish to ignore Bradford’s achievement.
Currently fourth in the fourth tier, Phil Parkinson’s team attacked Arsenal from the outset, and, in captain Gary Jones, winger Nakhi Wells and goalkeeper Duke, possessed three of the night’s outstanding players.
With Valley Parade full for the first time since its redevelopment during Bradford’s Premier League days over a decade ago, there was a distinct mood of anticipation in the air as Wenger’s players warmed up on the frost-bitten pitch prior to the game.
Despite Bradford’s status, Wenger was clearly determined to leave no room for error and there were no half-measures, no risks taken in terms of team selection.
Yet Arsenal found themselves pinned back on the ropes by Bradford in the early stages.
In the fourth minute, when Wells escaped Vermaelen before being denied by Wojciech Szczesny, Bradford gave warning of their readiness to pull off a shock.
Bradford’s 16th minute goal, came as a result of a clumsy challenge by Vermaelen on Wells after the winger had drawn the Belgian out of the penalty area. Arsenal still had the chance to kill the danger by dealing with Jones’s free-kick, but the midfielder’s delivery flew through the six-yard box and went uncleared before Garry Thompson volleyed the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Francis Coquelin responded by rattling the post, but as the first-half drew to a close, it was Bradford who went closest to adding to the scoring with Wells tormenting Vermaelen again before sending a right-foot effort bobbling wide. Vermaelen looked to have saved Arsenal when he headed in Cazorla’s cross three minutes from time, but it merely delayed their humiliation.
Extra-time came and went it all boiled down to penalties. Szczesny saved from Stephen Darby and Ritchie Jones, with Cazorla hitting the post and Duke denying Chamakh, yet Vermaelen’s miss was the killer blow. That the goalkeeper survived an operation for testicular cancer four years ago only added to the story.
The final whistle left the Arsenal contingent to melt away into the cold Yorkshire night, contemplating if, rather than when, the nightmare run will ever end.
Source: The Telegraph
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