Arsenal

3.25

• 
  35

  1

  3.00

  Damián Martínez

  Enjoyed a solid debut on which his shot-shopping was rarely tested, though will be aggrieved not to have kept a clean sheet. Commanded his box well when collecting crosses.

• 
  36

  3

  3.00

  Andre Santos

  Much of what we have come to expect from the Brazilian with a display that featured potency going forward, yet a slight disregard for much inside his own half. Wasn’t particularly punished for any defensive inadequacies.

• 
  28

  3

  3.00

  Johan Djourou

  Looked steady throughout until losing concentration to let the Sky Blues score their consolation goal. Really should have been a clean sheet.

• 
  25

  3

  3.00

  Martin Angha

  Steady enough on his debut. Could have really made an impact but his delivery when in key positions down the right flank slightly let him down.

• 
  35

  3

  3.50

  Ignasi Miquel

  Cultured performance, though that was aided by Coventry’s difficulties advancing up the pitch. Was unlucky with a bicycle kick in the first half, though looked tired as the game drew on, struggling with the presence of Ball. Got himself on the scoresheet to make slight amends for his part in conceding the consolation.

• 
  65

  3

  4.00

  Andrey Arshavin

  Drifted in from the left to great effect for the Gunners, being the architect of most that was good about his side the entire game. An array of clever flicks and touches gave his side a dimension which others were fully unable to provide. Started off Giroud’s opener and also won the penalty that the Frenchman missed before adding an excellent third and assisting the fifth.

• 
  47

  6

  4.00

  Francis Coquelin Top of the Match

  Started off sloppily but became his side’s most influential player with a fine combination of steel and skill from a deep-lying central midfield position. His determination led to Giroud’s opener and he bossed the game from that point on.

• 
  21

  11

  2.50

  Nicholas Yennaris

  Couldn’t quite match the warming story of his 12-year wait to line up against Coventry after previously appearing as mascot, with a couple of dodgy touches early on that contrived to persist throughout. Faded in influence as the game drew on.

• 
  48

  2

  3.50

  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

  Constantly swapping roles with Arshavin out on the left but was outshone by his Russian team-mate in the first half. Struck a venomous effort from 25 yards out to double his side’s lead as he became a more important part of the Gunner’s forward initiative.

• 
  48

  4

  3.50

  Olivier Giroud

  Broke his Arsenal duck in fantastic style, clipping in a left footed effort past the onrushing keeper. Looked immobile before the goal yet visibly grew in confidence afterwards, though clearly not enough to convert an early second-half penalty.

• 
  48

  6

  4.00

  Theo Walcott

  A second-half double salvaged a performance that first looked as if he was going to be firing blanks. The nature of his goals, cutting in to great effect from both flanks, does little to boost his desire of a starting berth at centre forward.

Substitutions

• 
  32

  4

  3.00

  Emmanuel Frimpong

  Brought on to a standing ovation with Gunners fans ecstatic to see their cult hero back on the field after so long out. Had little time to truly influence the game.

• 
  38

  3

  3.00

  Serge Gnabry

  Much is expected of the German youngster and he showed a few neat touches during his brief cameo.

• 
  23

  10

  2.50

  Marouane Chamakh

  Will be upset not to get on the scoresheet as the Gunners romped home in the final 20 minutes. Found it hard to get into the rhythm of the game.

Coventry

2.38

• 
  1

  4

  2.50

  Joe Murphy

  Could do little about Giroud’s clever first-half opener but enjoyed a mixed bag in the second, being beaten five times but still making a string of impressive saves.

• 
  1

  3

  2.00

  Jordan Clarke

  The interchange between Arshavin and Oxlade-Chamberlain eventually proved too much for him to handle as the Gunners flexed their muscles after the interval.

• 
  1

  2

  2.00

  Richard Wood

  Found himself more and more overrun as the game became stretched and Arsenal ran riot in the second half.

• 
  4

  1

  2.50

  Jamie Reckord

  The pace of Walcott was hard to handle, though the winger’s lack of end product meant that the Sky Blues full-back didn’t have too much too look back on and rue.

• 
  1

  3

  2.00

  Carl Baker

  Anonymous for large patches and found himself unable to exploit Santos’ willingness to get forward.

• 
  1

  3

  2.50

  Gary McSheffrey

  Flitted in and out of the game with his burly approach causing a young Arsenal back line the odd issue here and there. Never really effected the game in a sustained manner.

• 
  1

  3

  2.00

  Adam Barton

  Found himself overrun, particularly as the match reached its latter stages, with him unable to get a foothold as soon as Coquelin sorted out his act.

• 
  3

  5

  1.50

  Reece Brown Flop of the Match

  Found it hard to deal with Giroud when the striker played with his back to goal. A defensive error and the subsequent foul of Arshavin in the box fortuitously led to just a yellow card and a missed penalty. Not a great day.

• 
  1

  3

  2.00

  James Bailey

  Composure on the ball often let him down. With Arsenal ironning out their technical problems in the middle before him, he found himself on the peripherals of the game and unable to provide a shield for his under-fire defence.

• 
  1

  3

  3.00

  Franck Moussa

  Proved a handful for Angha to deal with on his debut with some telling balls in from the left. Substituted with half an hour to spare.

• 
  1

  3

  2.50

  Stephen Elliott

  Missed a decent headed effort early on, though grafted hard to pickpocket now and again throughout.

Substitutions

• 
  2

  3

  3.00

  John Fleck

  His introduction seemed to spark some life from his team though he had to work very hard to even get a touch on the ball.

• 
  3

  2

  3.50

  Callum Ball

  Came on and made an instant nuisance of himself, tapping home a cross and driving narrowly wide just beforehand.