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On This Day in 2012: Arsenal knocked out of EFL Cup by Bradford

On This Day in 2012: Arsenal knocked out of EFL Cup by Bradford
© Reuters
Bradford went on to beat another top-flight side, Aston Villa, in a two-legged semi-final before losing to Swansea in the final.

Arsenal suffered humiliation in the League Cup on this day in 2012 as they lost on penalties to League Two side Bradford after a 1-1 draw at Valley Parade.

Bradford went on to beat another top-flight side, Aston Villa, in a two-legged semi-final before losing to Swansea in the final.

The PA news agency followed Bradford's giant-killing run to Wembley and provided this report of that unforgettable victory against Arsene Wenger's side.

Bradford goalkeeper Matt Duke is mobbed by his team-mates after the penalty shoot-out
Bradford goalkeeper Matt Duke is mobbed by his team-mates after the penalty shoot-out (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

Arsenal suffered an embarrassment of epic proportions as they lost on penalties to a battling Bradford side whose achievement should rank among football's all-time giant-killing feats.

Phil Parkinson's League Two players did not just beat Arsenal in this Capital One Cup quarter-final, for much of this match they outplayed Arsene Wenger's woeful Gunners to reach a first ever semi-final.

The spot-kick specialists won their ninth successive penalty shoot-out 3-2 after Thomas Vermaelen struck the post.

The Arsenal skipper had earlier appeared to rescue the Gunners with a header three minutes from normal time to cancel out Garry Thompson's first-half volley.

A sell-out crowd of 23,971 witnessed a memorable night at Valley Parade
A sell-out crowd of 23,971 witnessed a memorable night at Valley Parade (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

But keeper Matt Duke defied the Premier League side to send the tie to a shoot-out – and glory for Bradford in front of a 23,971 sell-out crowd, the club's biggest since 1960.

The defeat in sub-zero temperatures, and another failure in Arsenal's seven-year quest for silverware, will chill the veins of Wenger as he contemplates the season so far.

The humiliation was further intensified by Wenger's breaking his long-held rule and fielding a full-strength side in the League Cup.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38275683325186
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd382111673442974
3Liverpool38209968422669
4Chelsea381910958362267
5Leicester CityLeicester382061268501866
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham381981162471565
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs381881268452362
8Arsenal381871355391661
9Leeds UnitedLeeds38185156254859
10Everton38178134748-159
11Aston Villa38167155546955
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174662-1645
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38129173652-1645
14Crystal Palace38128184166-2544
15Southampton38127194768-2143
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914154046-641
17Burnley38109193355-2239
RFulham38513202753-2628
RWest Bromwich AlbionWest Brom38511223576-4126
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3872292063-4323

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