Manchester City v Arsenal
Reuters

Arsenal start their Capital One Cup campaign with a third round game against Coventry City, to be played at the Emirates. The competition is likely to be seen as the Gunners' easiest chance to end a trophy drought stretching back to the 2005 FA Cup.

Where to Watch Live

There is, unfortunately, no broadcast of this game but live commentary is available via Arsenal Player, for registered members of Arsenal.com.

Overview

The Gunners have made a good start to the season, despite a few nervous moments early on in the calendar. Arsene Wenger's side now have nine points from the opening five games and are fifth in the league, only four points behind early leaders Chelsea. The club's last league game was a particularly encouraging 1-1 draw away to Manchester City; in performance if not in the result. Furthermore, the 2-1 winning start to the Champions League (away to Montpellier) was also a boost.

Coventry are unlikely, theoretically, to put up much of a fight in London. However, Wenger will be wary of overconfidence, after having seen City eliminated after a 2-4 defeat to Aston Villa. The Sky Blues' manager, Mark Robins, will have seen that game too and has called on his players to produce a similar performance. The League One club have yet to win a match in their division this season.

"We want to go there and try and be productive. We'll have to work hard and we'll have to retain possession and use the ball better than we did on Saturday and if we can do that then football can be a strange game," he said. Robins, incidentally, has only recently been appointed to the managerial post and this will be only his second game in charge.

Team Form

Arsenal

  • Last Five (most recent first): D W W W D
  • Last Result: Manchester City 1 - 1 Arsenal

Coventry

  • Last Five (most recent first): L L L L D
  • Last Result: Coventry City 1 - 2 Carlisle United

Team News

Olivier Giroud
Reuters

Arsenal: Wenger will likely make a number of changes to the side that drew with City, particularly since the Frenchman does have a reputation for fielding youth team players in cup competitions. City's present form and lowly ranking will be another motivation to give some of his fringe players a run out. This list will probably include contract rebel Theo Walcott and the unwanted Andrei Arshavin, as well as out of form French striker Olivier Giroud. Youngsters like Ignasi Miquel, Serge Gnabry, Nico Yennaris and Francis Coquelin are also expected to start for the Gunners.

Coventry City: Coventry are likely to start the same team that lost to Carlisle in their last game. New signing Franck Moussa could be in line to start, should he recover from an illness.

Probable Starting Line-Up:

Arsenal: Mannone; Yennaris, Djourou, Koscielny, Santos; Ramsey, Eisfeld, Coquelin; Walcott, Giroud, Arshavin

Coventry: Murphy; Clarke, Wood, Cameron, Kilbane; Fleck, Henderson, Jennings, Moussa; McGoldrick, McDonald

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