Gunners hit Coventry for six

Arsenal eased into the fourth round of the Capital One Cup after thrashing Coventry 6-1.

The home side made a slow start to the game but took the lead six minutes before half-time as summer signing Olivier Giroud scored his first goal for the club. The former Montpellier striker endured a mixed evening as he missed a second-half penalty before the game was wrapped up courtesy of a superb strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Andrey Arshavin and Ignasi Miquel also struck with a Theo Walcott brace imposing Arsenal's dominance on the scoreline - Callum Ball scored Coventry's consolation with his team 4-0 down.

Giroud opened the scoring as he beat the offside trap to collect a loose ball and kept his composure to chip over the onrushing Joe Murphy.

Coventry started the second half brightly but could have fallen further behind only five minutes after the restart. Reece Brown mistimed his clearance and then challenged Arshavin for the bouncing ball with the Russia international going to ground and referee Michael Jones adjudged that the on-loan Manchester United defender had been fouled.

Giroud stepped up but his low penalty was saved superbly by Murphy, diving low to his right and the resulting corner was headed onto the crossbar by Miquel. Arsenal doubled their lead moments later courtesy of a rasping 25-yard effort from England winger Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The third goal followed soon after as Oxlade-Chamberlain and Giroud combined to set up Arshavin to score on his first start of the season. Only another good save from Murphy denied Arsenal's captain Johan Djourou adding a fourth with a diving header.

Arsenal made it 4-0 moments when Nico Yennaris played a through-ball to the feet of Walcott, who burst clear of the defence to slot home. Substitute Ball and Gary McSheffrey shot just wide before it was third time lucky for the Sky Blues when Ball reacted quicker than the Arsenal defence to Carl Baker's cross to reduce the deficit to 4-1.

However, Arsenal soon regained their four-goal advantage as Miquel climbed at the back post to head home Arshavin's pinpoint cross.

Walcott then had two chances to add a sixth goal but hit the side-netting with one effort before forcing a low save out of Murphy. The England international finally scored his second in the final minute of normal time with a smart finish.