Phil Parkinson’s npower 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 equalise Garry Thompson’s first-half volley. But keeper Matt Duke defied the Premier League side to send the tie to a shoot-out – and glory for Bradford.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 the Frenchman breaking his long-held rule and fielding a full-strength side in the League Cup.The 23,971 sell-out crowd, Bradford’s biggest since 1960, had groaned as the teams were read out but they were soon cheering when their top-scorer Nahki Wells out-muscled Vermaelen and forced a sprawling save from Wojciech Szczesny. Though referee Mike Dean ruled Bermuda international Wells had used too much force, it gave some hope to the Bantams.Hope turned to jubilation for the Bradford fans in the 16th minute when a free-kick led to Thompson’s goal. Vermaelen had blocked off Wells and Gary Jones caused mayhem to Arsenal’s zonal markers with his free-kick, Will Atkinson flicking it on for an unmarked Thompson to gleefully fire home.Arsenal needed inspiration from somewhere and Francis Coquelin was almost the unlikely source with a skilful dribble through two challenges before rattling a shot against the foot of the post with Duke looking beaten. Bradford’s goal took on a charmed life when a more typical Arsenal move ended with Kieran Gibbs driving in a cross and Gervinho, from two yards out, somehow contriving to let the ball go through his legs.It was well past the hour when Duke was forced into his first save, parrying Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first-time shot from fellow substitute Tomas Rosicky. The desperation finally paid dividends with three minutes of normal time remaining. After his corner had been half-cleared, Santi Cazorla whipped in a delicious cross for Vermaelen to head home from close range.Two brilliant saves in quick succession by Duke from Cazorla took the game into extra time. Finally, Arsenal started to look like the Premier League side as Rosicky and Jack Wilshere started to pull the strings. Duke’s stunning save denied Gibbs, then Bacary Sagna’s header was cleared off the line by Gary Jones.

Cazorla nearly won it with a stunning, swerving effort from fully 30 yards that struck the crossbar, but Bradford held out for the shoot-out. Arsenal were always on the back foot from when Cazorla had their first spot-kick saved, even more so when Marouane Chamakh hit the post. Bradford could even afford to see Szczesny deny Ritchie Jones and Stephen Darby before Vermaelen’s miss sent Valley Parade into ecstasy.

The npower League Two side, currently 64 places lower than the Gunners, triumphed 3-2 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 following extra time at Valley Parade. Only one Bradford player commanded a transfer fee – James Hanson, who cost £7,500 from non-league Guiseley plus the proceeds of a friendly.Asked if his players felt embarrassed, Wenger said: “You feel embarrassed when you don’t give everything but I feel the team did fight and they will be more disappointed and frustrated.”He added: “It’s disappointing but congratulations to Bradford. They defended well, started stronger than us and in the second half and extra time it was all us but we couldn’t convert our chances.”It was a typical English cup game on a difficult pitch and overall we lost on penalties but I cannot fault the efforts, we kept going until the last minute and in the end Bradford got on top of us. Of course we missed three penalties and that’s a lot to take.”The Gunners did not force a save out of Bantams keeper Matt Duke until the 69th minute but Wenger insisted his team had created enough overall.”They defended very well, very deep in their own half, the pitch was a bit slippery and there was no space,” Wenger said. “We played with a very offensive team and for over an hour played with five strikers but couldn’t score. Where does it leave our season? To focus on the next game, sport is about that.”Bradford boss Phil Parkinson said his players – who won their ninth successive shoot-out – should be given credit for out-performing a full-strength Arsenal side.He said: “I don’t think the enormity of our achievement has quite sunk in. When they get up and see the headlines in the newspapers they will realise what they have done. There is a big gulf between the two teams in terms of finances and places in the divisions.

“Arsenal have played their best team and we were three minutes away from beating them, then we have had the setback of conceding a goal and had to dig deep again in extra time. I hope this can be the first of many nights like this for Bradford City. We want to put Bradford on the map again. I want them to have a team to be proud of.”

Watch Bradford City Victory video against Arsenal

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