Super slick Gunners batter Sky Blues

Manager Arsene Wenger said afterwards that his side needed to be serious and they were, battering their lower league opposition with a largely experimental side.

“I think we did our job,” said Wenger. “In the first half we were tested, defensively mainly. In the second half our offensive potential made the difference when they tired a little bit. From then on of course you had Arshavin, Walcott, Chamberlain and Giroud, who were always a threat. That made the difference, the difference of quality made a big impact on the result in the end.”

The home side 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.

On Giroud’s first goal, a goal that all Arsenal fans longed for since his arrival, the manager said, “It was in everybody’s mind that the sooner he gets it the better. Certainly in his mind much more than in others’ minds. That is positive of course. It was a good finisher and he is a good finisher, Olivier. At the moment I believe he is looking for confidence again and that goal will help him. I expect him to take that confidence into the Premier League.”

Another to get on the scoresheet was Theo Walcott, playing in a more advanced role up front, something Wenger insisted could happen again.

“I am not against it, not at all. We will try. At the moment we have a big competition up front, we have a different formula and the team is doing well. His time will come for that and at the moment we have to be a bit patient. He is a great finisher now, Walcott, in front of goal he is absolutely amazing.”

Arsenal’s reward for winning is a fourth round clash with Reading.

ARSENAL: Martinez; Yennaris, Djourou, Miquel, Santos; Angha; Walcott, Coquelin (Frimpong 72), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Gnabry 72); Arshavin, Giroud (Chamakh 72).

COVENTRY: Murphy; Clarke, Wood, Brown, Reckford; Bailey, Barton, McSheffrey, Moussa (Fleck 60), Baker; Elliott (Ball 69).

Referee: Michael Jones (Chester)

Last night’s results: Capital One Cup results

Arsenal 6 Coventry 1; Carlisle United 0 Tottenham 3; Manchester United 2 Newcastle United 1; Norwich City 1 Doncaster Rovers 0; QPR 2 Reading 3; WBA 1 Liverpool 2.