Arsenal suffered a 3-2 loss after penalties in the Capital One Cup quarter-final against League Two side Bradford after a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes. It was one of the biggest upsets this season in front of an ecstatic home crowd at Coral Windows Stadium.
Arsenal has now only won 1 out of the last 6 games. Wenger made only three changes after the game on Saturday against West Brom and started Gervinho and Podolski. Gary Thompson scored the lead for Bradford in the 16th minute and Arsenal needed a late 88th-minute equalising goal from Thomas Vermaelen to go into extra time. However, Wenger refused to criticise his team after the defeat and said: “It was a great cup tie on a tough pitch and I cannot fault the effort from my players. It was a typical English cup tie and Bradford got on top of us.”
For Bradford, it is the first time in club history that the team is playing in the League Cup semi-finals. Bradford boss Phil Parkinson was delighted: “It’s a great night for the club. We said before the game that we wanted to show a wide audience that we are a good side. Arsene said he was going to bring a strong team but we were still surprised by just how strong it was. He knew we were a good side.” Bradford has now won the last 9 penalty shoot outs. However, the League Two side was expelled from FA Cup last Friday after fielding an ineligible player at Friday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford in the second round. They currently appeal the FA’s decision.
The Gunners face Reading on Saturday before they have the play Wigan away. The draw for the League Cup semi-finals will take place straight after Leeds v Chelsea and Swansea v Middlesbrough next Wednesday. Bradford and Aston Villa are already qualified.
