Not often Arsenal provide a welcome break!

Most teams looking at an away game against Arsenal would be fearing the worst but, however many goals the Gunners` second string put past Coventry City in midweek, the League Cup tie at the Emirates Stadium provided a hugely welcome break from the nightmare that is supporting the Sky Blues in League One this season.

A 7,000+ away following is making the journey down to North London to experience the feeling of being at a big game in a superb stadium against a great side. Without any of the pressure that has come from following City`s woeful efforts at winning league games this one can just be enjoyed as it, a refreshing change from the spiral of decline that the club is currently locked in.

The money will come in handy too of course. Even a match such as this, at the bottom of Arsene Wenger`s list of priorities, will attract a huge crowd and provide City with a welcome share of the proceeds.

The two sides were almost equals the last time they met in this competition, in November 1997 when a Denis Bergkamp goal in extra-time won a tight tie at Highbury. The Sky Blues were a well-established Premier League team while the Gunners were just embarking on their Wenger-inspired rise back to the very top of the English game.