Date: Friday, 24 January 2014; Venue: Emirates Stadium, London; Kickoff: 19:45 GMT Third tier team Coventry City travel to Premier League leaders Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday with only one win against the Londoners in 20 years in all competitions. Robbie Keane, who went on to play for the Gunners' bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, scored the winner at Highfield Road in December 1999 as the Sky Blues emerged victorious 3-2. You have to go back to 1993 for the last time Coventry won at Arsenal by the handsome scoreline 3-0. Micky Quinn's hat-trick in half an hour at Highbury did the damage. The Sky Blues' have a dismal FA Cup record against the Gunners too. Arsenal have never lost to Coventry in the world's oldest knockout football competition. In all cup competitions full stop the West Midlands outfit have recorded a single win. Were it not for a ten point penalty deduction brought on by their well-documented dire financial straits, Coventry would be on the cusp of the League One playoffs. Steven Pressley's side are unbeaten in their last six outings with three wins and as many draws. FA Cup winners in 1987, Coventry overcame Wimbledon, Hartlepool in a replay, and Barnsley en route to this meeting with top flight opposition. Arsene Wenger's formidable Arsenal meanwhile have six wins in their last seven, conceding just twice since the 6-3 drubbing at Manchester City.
Team News
The Gunners could name Nicklas Bendtner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in attack as both are back after a sprained ankle and knee injury respectively. Midfield trio Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky are all out of this tie, however. Sky Blues top scorer Leon Clarke is expected to play despite handing in a transfer request. Strike partner Callum Wilson remains sidelined by a shoulder problem. Pressley will have several academy graduates in the XI. Source: BBC
Likely Line-Ups
Arsenal: 21 Lukasz Fabianski, 25 Carl Jenkinson, 4 Per Mertesacker, 6 Laurent Koscielny, 28 Kieran Gibbs, 20 Mathieu Flamini, 10 Jack Wilshere, 15 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 19 Santi Cazorla, 9 Lukas Podolski, 23 Nicklas Bendtner 4-2-3-1 Coventry: 1 Joe Murphy, 24 Jordan Clarke, 2 Cyrus Christie, 4 Andy Webster, 3 Blair Adams, 16 Adam Barton, 6 Conor Thomas, 8 Carl Baker, 14 Franck Moussa, 7 John Fleck, 9 Leon Clarke 4-2-3-1
Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.
