Dennis Bergkamp came back from suspension to shoot Arsenal into the quarter-finals of the English League Cup with an extra-time winner against Coventry at Highbury last night. But the mercurial Dutchman, who will complete a three-match ban in the Premiership game at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, had to share the honour of being man of the match with reserve goalkeeper Alex Manninger.
The Austrian under-21 international, bought by Arsene Wenger for £500,000 from Casino Graz during the summer, pulled off a hat-trick of brilliant saves to keep Arsenal's mixture of experienced first-teamers and precocious reserves in the competition.
Just three minutes from the end of extra-time, with Arsenal clinging to Bergkamp's 12th goal in 14 games in the 99th minute, Manninger plunged fearlessly at the feet of Coventry substitute Darren Huckerby who had burst clean through a malfunctioning offside trap.
Earlier Manninger kept out a blistering drive by Gary McAllister and then, just after the start of the second half, turned Dion Dublin's powerful header around a post.
He also came impressively off his line to foil Marcus Hall and stood up manfully to an aerial battering from the muscular Dublin.
But Arsenal, who hit the woodwork twice through Nicolas Anelka and Alberto Mendez, whose shot flicked off the heel of Coventry's Gary Breen before pelting against a post, were good value for their victory.
Wenger had shown little regard for the football league's flagship knockout competition which no longer carries the reward of a European place but his team - lacking the likes of Ian Wright, Tony Adams, David Seaman and Marc Overmars - fought tigerishly for their place in the last eight.
Coventry, beaten 2-0 at Highbury in the league in August, also gave their all in a full-blooded battle which ended with David Burrows, Richard Shaw and Simon Hayworth all booked.
Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Bould, Platt, Keown, Upson, Parlour, Mendez (Marshall 105), Hughes, Anelka (Wreh 67), Bergkamp. Subs Not Used: Lukic. Goal: Bergkamp 99.
Coventry: Ogrizovic, Shaw, Burrows, Williams, Breen, Dublin, McAllister, Telfer, Hall, Haworth (Huckerby 75), Nilsson. Subs Not Used: Soltvedt, Boland. Booked: Haworth, Burrows, Shaw, Williams.
Referee: G R Ashby (Worcester).
