Arsenal suffer Cup shootout defeat at Bradford

Thursday, 13 December 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Arsenal suffered a humiliating League Cup quarter-final exit to fourth tier Bradford City on Tuesday, losing 3-2 on penalties after an absorbing game finished 1-1 at the end of extra time at a packed Valley Parade.

The Premier League side needed an 88 minute goal from Captain Thomas Vermaelen to force the extra period but failed to make their superiority tell and it was Vermaelen who missed their final spot kick to send the minnows through.

Garry Thompson had scored with a tidy far post finish in the 16 minute to give a surprise lead to the hosts who then held off a second-half barrage before Arsenal’s Belgium centre back Vermaelen levelled with a far-post header.