City hit the jackpot with a Capital One Cup quarter-final date against Arsenal to leave Phil Parkinson purring: That’s as good as you get.

After four uninspiring cup draws, the Bantams were finally handed a Valley Parade money-spinner against the Gunners in the last eight.

The game, which will take place in the week beginning December 10, is expected to be shown live on TV – which will provide another significant financial injection.

Parkinson had been clamouring for a big-money tie to swell his promotion budget and was thrilled to see Arsenal’s name pop up in the draw late last night.

He said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic. We’ve always said our time will come and we would get that massive cup tie and it’s finally happened.

“To see the words Bradford City v Arsenal going across the TV screen was fantastic. It’s great for the club, great for the two chairmen and great for all the supporters.

"Money-wise, getting an away tie to one of the big teams would have earned us maybe a bit more. But equally, Arsenal at home with 20,000 of our fans there will be something special – and I’m positive it’s going to be on TV.”

With holders Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham all going out, fans feared that City would once again miss the boat when it came to a bumper tie in their first quarter-final since 1989.

Parkinson admitted: “As the games were getting played and Norwich and Swansea were winning, the odds were lengthening on us being given a lucrative draw. But it’s as good as you are going to get in terms of playing at home to one of the Premiership’s biggest clubs.”

The match will have an extra attraction for City assistant manager Steve Parkin, who is close friends with Arsenal number two Steve Bould after they were apprentices together at Stoke.

Parkinson will let the excitement sink in at the training ground today – but then talk about Arsenal will be banned.

He said: “Of course we’ll have a good chat about it but from tomorrow morning I don’t want to hear it mentioned again until the game comes around. Our priority is the league and we need to give ourselves the best chance of getting promoted.”