Live Blog: Bantams v Arsenal (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

10:54pm

Parkinson added: "I don't think the enormity of what we've achieved has quite sunk in with the lads yet. I don't think it will until we read the papers tomorrow..."

10:52pm

Phil Parkinson now taking centre stage.. "I don't want the talk in the papers to be about penalties... the real story was how the lads performed over 120 minutes."

10:50pm

Asked about feeling embarrassed, Wenger replied: "More frustrated than embarrassed."

10:48pm

Wenger being forced to defend himself here in the post-match presser, deep within the bowels of Valley Parade!!!

10:43pm

Wenger a picture of contrition after his side's defeat...

10:42pm

Arsene Wenger said: “When you go out it’s never good enough for Arsenal. I believe we gave absolutely everything over 120 minutes… you have to give Bradford credit.”
 

10:41pm

Well folks, that was an unbelievable night. Another one. You cannot write the scripts of Bradford City this season.

10:34pm

City booked their place in the Capital One Cup semi-finals amid extrarordinary scenes at Valley Parade tonight, claiming their ninth successive penalty shoot-out victory.

After Garry Thompson's volley fired the Bantams ahead in the 16th minute, City showed remarkable doggedness to hold on until Thomas Vermaelen headed home an 88th-minute equaliser.

That ensured a period of extra-time, which brought no further goals, ensuring another shoot-out which City won 3-2 thanks to more heroics from Matt Duke.

10:34pm

City booked their place in the Capital One Cup semi-finals amid extrarordinary scenes at Valley Parade tonight, claiming their ninth successive penalty shoot-out victory.

After Garry Thompson's volley fired the Bantams ahead in the 16th minute, City showed remarkable doggedness to hold on until Thomas Vermaelen headed home an 88th-minute equaliser.

That ensured a period of extra-time, which brought no further goals, ensuring another shoot-out which City won 3-2 thanks to more heroics from Matt Duke.

10:34pm

10:31pm

10:31pm

10:31pm

Pitch invasion taking place as City book their semi-final spot... CITY WIN 3-2 ON PENALTIES.!!!!!!!

10:31pm

Pitch invasion taking place as City book their semi-final spot... CITY WIN 3-2 ON PENALTIES.!!!!!!!

10:31pm

Pitch invasion taking place as City book their semi-final spot... CITY WIN 3-2 ON PENALTIES.!!!!!!!

10:31pm

10:24pm

Vermaelen hits the post... City through 3-2!!!!!!!!!!!!

10:23pm

Ritchie Jones has pen saved....3-2 with Arsenal pen to come...

10:23pm

Oxlade-Chamberlain scores...3-2 to City...

10:22pm

Alan Connell scores... 3-1 to City...

10:21pm

Stephen Darby pen saved... Wilshere scores.. 2-1

10:21pm

Stephen Darby pen saved... Wilshere scores.. 2-1

10:21pm

Doyle scores City's first pen...Cazorla has pen saved.. Gary Jones then scores and Arsenal miss second pen... 2-0 to City...

10:21pm

Doyle scores City's first pen...Cazorla has pen saved.. Gary Jones then scores and Arsenal miss second pen... 2-0 to City...

10:21pm

Doyle scores City's first pen...Cazorla has pen saved.. Gary Jones then scores and Arsenal miss second pen... 2-0 to City...

10:18pm

Penalties to be taken in front of the TL Dallas Stand... which is packed with City fans...

10:18pm

10:18pm

Penalties to be taken in front of the TL Dallas Stand... which is packed with City fans...

10:18pm

Penalties to be taken in front of the TL Dallas Stand... which is packed with City fans...

10:18pm

Penalties to be taken in front of the TL Dallas Stand... which is packed with City fans...

10:18pm

Penalties to be taken in front of the TL Dallas Stand... which is packed with City fans...

10:18pm

Penalties to be taken in front of the TL Dallas Stand... which is packed with City fans...

10:18pm

Penalties to be taken in front of the TL Dallas Stand... which is packed with City fans...

10:18pm

Penalties to be taken in front of the TL Dallas Stand... which is packed with City fans...

10:18pm

10:18pm

10:18pm

10:14pm

City will now bid to win their ninth successive penalty shoot-out....

10:13pm

The final whistle is greeted with rapturous applause from the home faithful...

10:13pm

Penalties it is then folks... it had to be didn't it??

10:10pm

Less than two minutes left... still 1-1!!

10:05pm

Less than eight minutes of extra-time remaining... penalties anyone??

10:01pm

Cazorla strikes the bar from 25 yards... still 1-1...

10:00pm

Right folks, strap yourselves in tight... 15 mins to go...

10:00pm

Right folks, strap yourselves in tight... 15 mins to go...

10:00pm

Right folks, strap yourselves in tight... 15 mins to go...

10:00pm

Right folks, strap yourselves in tight... 15 mins to go...

9:56pm

First period of extra-time over... 1-1...

9:54pm

Kieran Gibbs heads over the crossbar at the far post...

9:54pm

Substitute Blair Turgott almost finds a way through... still 1-1... getting even colder now...

9:50pm

Gary Jones heads off the line after Kieran Gibbs was denied moments earlier... City heroic in defence... still 1-1...

9:49pm

Gervinho cross is cleared by Gary Jones... Kop still in fine voice... still 1-1...

9:47pm

Wilshere dribbles his way into the penalty box but opts not to shoot.. but forces a corner...

9:47pm

Wilshere dribbles his way into the penalty box but opts not to shoot.. but forces a corner...

9:47pm

Wilshere dribbles his way into the penalty box but opts not to shoot.. but forces a corner...

9:46pm

Growing increasingly tense here with five minutes of extra-time played.... still 1-1.

9:44pm

9:44pm

9:43pm

9:43pm

9:43pm

9:43pm

9:35pm

It's looking like extra-time, folks... now in added time.

9:31pm

GOAL!! 87mins... Vermaelen equalises with a far-post header... harsh on City...

9:31pm

GOAL!! 87mins... Vermaelen equalises with a far-post header... harsh on City...

9:31pm

GOAL!! 87mins... Vermaelen equalises with a far-post header... harsh on City...

9:31pm

GOAL!! 87mins... Vermaelen equalises with a far-post header... harsh on City...

9:31pm

GOAL!! 87mins... Vermaelen equalises with a far-post header... harsh on City...

9:31pm

GOAL!! 87mins... Vermaelen equalises with a far-post header... harsh on City...

9:29pm

Arsenal beginning to turn the screw....

9:27pm

Oxlade-Chamberlain rifles the ball over from the edge of the box...

9:27pm

Oxlade-Chamberlain rifles the ball over from the edge of the box...

9:23pm

Matt Duke makes a smart stop to preserve City's lead....

9:21pm

City holding firm, but Arsenal only need a sniff...

9:16pm

Alan Connell, an Arsenal fanatic, comes on to replace Nahki Wells, who has been brilliant...

9:14pm

Garry Thompson OFF

Ritchie Jones ON

9:12pm

Ramsey and Podolski OFF

Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomas Rosicky ON

9:10pm

Still 1-0 to City, game on a knife edge... 23 minutes left...

9:06pm

Attendance: 23,971....

9:03pm

9:03pm

Arsenal SUB... Chamakh for Coquelin...

9:03pm

9:02pm

Francis Coquelin fires the ball across the face of goal but no Arsenal player is on hand to finish it off....

9:01pm

City fans are loving this. Really getting behind their team despite the dipping temperatures....

9:01pm

9:01pm

9:00pm

The Kop are in great voice, constantly outsinging the huge Arsenal contingent.

8:59pm

8:58pm

8:57pm

Aaron Ramsey blazes the ball wide from 20 yards...

8:56pm

City are generally on top as the second half progresses...

8:55pm

City have began the second half strongly...

8:31pm

He then hits a thunderous 25-yard shot over the crossbar...

8:30pm

Nahki Wells pokes a low shot just wide...

8:29pm

Two mins to the break, City still 1-0 up...

8:28pm

Shocking miss from Gervinho, who fails to connect with Kieran Gibbs' low left-wing cross.

8:28pm

Shocking miss from Gervinho, who fails to connect with Kieran Gibbs' low left-wing cross.

8:24pm

8:24pm

8:24pm

Francis Coquelin strikes a left-foot shot against the post...

8:24pm

8:21pm

Arsena's approach play is typical Arsenal. Neat and intricate but no sign of an end product.

8:17pm

Nahki Wells forces a corner after some delightful footwork...

8:14pm

Lukas Podolski free-kick blocked by the City wall...

8:13pm

Nahki Wells' name, not for the first time tonight, rings out loud and clear around Valley Parade.

8:13pm

Nahki Wells' name, not for the first time tonight, rings out loud and clear around Valley Parade.

8:11pm

City continue to cause Arsenal problems...

8:11pm

"Premier League, you're 'avin a laugh" is the chant from the Kop....

8:08pm

8:05pm

City managing to remain composed after Thompson's goal. Key period for the Bantams. Keep it tight....

8:02pm

GOAL!!! Thomas Vermaelen bodychecks Nahki Wells at the expense of a free-kick, which Gary Jones takes and Garry Thompson volleys home!!!

8:00pm

Matt Duke plucks a cross from Bacary Sagna out of the air.

7:57pm

Arsenal beginning to boss proceedings a little now. Jack Wilshere clearly a class act in the middle of the park.

7:55pm

Thomas Vermaelen heads over the crossbar from a corner.

7:55pm

Nice skill from Gervinho, who twists and turns before City clear the ball at the expense of a corner.

7:55pm

Nice skill from Gervinho, who twists and turns before City clear the ball at the expense of a corner.

7:54pm

Nice skill from Gervinho, who twists and turns before City clear the ball at the expense of a corner.

7:53pm

Stephen Darby produces a fine header at the far post at the expense of a corner.

7:51pm

Raucous atmosphere as Wells fires goalwards from 20 yards, forcing Szczesny into a smart stop!!

7:50pm

City skipper Gary Jones send a shot wide from 20 yards.

7:48pm

7:48pm

Arsenal fans in similarly fine voice. All 4,500 of them in the Midland Road Stand.

7:48pm

Arsenal fans in similarly fine voice. All 4,500 of them in the Midland Road Stand.

7:47pm

City immediately on the front foot as Nahki Wells has a low shot cleared.

7:46pm

Right, folks, we are off. Arsenal boot the ball straight out of play. Good start.

7:45pm

7:44pm

The Kop looks full to bursting. Various chants being belted out by the City faithful.

7:36pm

Eight minutes to kick-off and yes, folks, it is getting colder still!!

7:36pm

Arsene Wenger in pre-match Sky interview: "The pitch is good... the dressing rooms are not the sort of quality we are used to."

7:33pm

7:27pm

City team now being read out to rapturous applause from the Valley Parade faithful

7:25pm

Valley Parade stadium announcer getting more than a little excited... talking about City's semi-final opponents!

7:24pm

Both teams now warming up, atmosphere building by the minute...

7:24pm

Both teams now warming up, atmosphere building by the minute...

7:24pm

Both teams now warming up, atmosphere building by the minute...

7:24pm

7:24pm

7:23pm

7:10pm

Arsenal team being announced over the Tannoy getting heavily booed. No surprise there. City team getting loudly cheered.

7:10pm

Atmosphere here building gradually. City players come to warm up to rapturous applause from the Kop.

7:06pm

7:05pm

7:05pm

Arsenal team undeniably very strong. But will they fancy a freezing night in Yorkshire?

7:04pm

7:04pm

7:03pm

7:02pm

7:02pm

7:02pm

7:01pm

7:01pm

7:01pm

The Arsenal team coach knew they had arrived in Bradford. Large group of City fans greeted them with various chants!

7:00pm

Arsenal line-up: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Wilshere, Coquelin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski, Gervinho.

Subs: Mannone, Rosicky, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Squillaci, Jenkinson, Chamakh

6:58pm

City line-up: Duke, Darby, McArdle, McHugh, Meredith, Thompson, G Jones, Doyle, Atkinson, Hanson, Wells

Subs: McLaughlin, Ravenhill, R Jones, Connell, Hines, Turgott, Good

6:56pm

City are unchanged from Saturday's win over Torquay. The bench includes Zavon Hines but not Kyel Reid.

6:55pm

Man Utd's Tom Cleverley, a former City youth player, at the ground chatting to fans. #bcafc

6:54pm

Atmosphere steadily building at a chilly Valley Parade. Former Bulls coach Brian Noble in the press box.

6:30pm

6:30pm

6:22pm

5:38pm

5:16pm

4:11pm

4:09pm

4:09pm