LONDON -- Lukas Podolski scored a brace in the first half on Friday to help give Arsenal a routine 4-0 victory over third-tier Coventry in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Evan Dietrich-Smith Red Jersey . In a game that Arsenal dominated from the start, Podolski put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute by slotting home a cool finish after being set up by Mesut Ozil. He then doubled the lead with a close-range header from a corner in the 27th. The win was never in doubt after that and Arsenal added two late goals as substitute Olivier Giroud struck in the 85th after replacing Podolski five minutes earlier, before Santi Cazorla slotted in the fourth. In Fridays only other FA Cup game, Nottingham Forest was held to a 0-0 draw at home against Preston. Playing in a steady drizzle in north London, it was the kind of comfortable victory Arsenal had hoped for as it looks ahead to facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League knockout round, while trying to protect its slim lead atop the Premier League. Despite playing at home against third-tier opposition, manager Arsene Wenger named a surprisingly strong starting lineup with both Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere in midfield -- perhaps worried about another upset after going out to Blackburn last season. And with Wenger contemplating buying a striker in the January transfer window, Podolski showed off his scoring touch by deciding the game in the first half. Podolski was first sent clear by Ozil on the left side of the area and calmly rounded goalkeeper Joe Murphy before slotting a left-footed shot into an empty net. The second came from a corner that Per Mertesacker met at the near post and headed on across the goal, with Podolski waiting at the far post to nod it into the net. "Podolski can score goals and when you have a goal chance you want him to have it," Wenger said. "He is very accurate in his finishing." Coventry was more enterprising after the break, enjoying several spells of pressure, but Leon Clarke wasted the teams two best chances for a goal. Clarke raced clear down the right flank in the 50th but got too close to the byline before firing a low shot from a tight angle that Fabianski parried. He then hit the right post with a first time effort from just inside the area as Arsenal seemed content to sit back and protect its lead. "I know it was 4-0 but when you consider the difference in resources of both clubs, I know its a hard luck story, but my players should take so much confidence from that performance," Coventry manager Steven Pressley said. Giroud took his only chance in front of goal by slotting in a finish inside the near post and Cazorla continued his scoring streak from a similar position for his third goal in two games. Arsenals talented 16-year-old midfielder Gedion Zelalem had also come on as a substitute, as Wenger for the first time gave a debut to a player who was born after the Frenchman became manager of the team. "That is more damaging for me than for him," Wenger joked. Zelalem has been touted as perhaps the clubs biggest talent since Cesc Fabregas and was given a rousing reception when he came on. Coventry is a former Premier League club and the 1987 FA Cup winner but has struggled both on and off the field in recent years. The team is 11th in League One this season and has been forced to play all of its home games at Northampton because of a rent dispute with the owners of Ricoh Arena. The contingent of about 6,000 Coventry fans protested the situation during the game, holding up signs in the 35th and 61st minute. Arsenal had its own stadium problems, with some of the floodlights at the Emirates going out just before halftime. The game continued without interruption, with hundreds of fans making fun of the situation by lighting up their mobile phones in the stands in mock efforts to illuminate the pitch. It was about the only thing that went wrong for Arsenal on the night. Tom Crabtree Red Jersey . Pierre Jacksons uncontested layup with 28.8 seconds to play led sixth-ranked Baylor past No. 15 Mississippi State, 54-52, in a hard-fought affair at American Airlines Center. Major Wright Red Jersey . -- Xavier Thames dropped in 3s from deep, finessed floaters in the lane and carried San Diego State the way he did all season as the Mountain West player of the year.TSN Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie, Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger have the latest on the future of Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi with the Rangers, the market for Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller and what happens if Lightning star Steven Stamkos isnt ready for Sochi. What are the New York Rangers likely to do with impending free agents Dan Girardi and captain Ryan Callahan? Will Dan Boyle be extended like San Jose Sharks teammates Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton? Dreger: Theyre gauging interest in Ryan Callahan and I know thats going to be a big surprise to Rangers fans out there. Theres been much speculation because of the significance of the signing of those two players, but Im told that Rangers general manager Glen Sather has reached out to a number of general managers and he is gauging trade interest on Callahan, less so on Girardi. I know theres a lot of interest in Girardi, but the sense is that the Rangers are more comfortable or, at least, more confident that theyll get Girardi signed. Bob McKenzie: Its my understanding that if the Rangers do not sign Callahan and/or Girardi by the trade deadline, they are determined to trade one or both of them, whichever guy is not signed. Even though theyre very much in the playoff picture, they realize theyre not a Cup contender and theyre not going to let one or both of these guys walk in the summer for absolutely nothing. The other aspect thats interesting with negotiations is that Girardi and Callahan are both looking for long-term deals. Girardi is going to be 30 years old in the summer and hes looking for a seven-year deal with Jay Bouwmeester-type money, up around $5.4 million per season. As for Callahan, the captain of the Rangers, he wants a seven-year deal believed to be at more than $6 million a year. These guys will get that in unrestricted free agency, so the term is a concern for the New York Rangers. LeBrun: Term and age are pretty much what theyre talking about in San Jose with Dan Boyle. It didnt go unnoticed that when Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton - who are 34 - signed their extensions last Friday, Boyle remained unsigned. Hes 37 and hes in that 35-and-over club that, if he signs a long-term deal, it counts against the cap, regardless. So the Sharks would rather do a one-year deal, but I think Boyle wants a two-year deal. Keep an eye on where that one goes. Is there a market for Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller? McKenzie: Its not a hot market and its not a cold market. Its lukewarm at best. There is some interest in Ryan Miller. The Minnessota Wild havent made an offer, but theyre waiting to see what happens with Josh Hardings health situation.http://www.authenticbuccaneersshop.com/Elite-Josh-Mccown-Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-Jersey-Mens-Nike-Nfl-12-Team-Road-Two-Tone-62. The St. Louis Blues might have some lukewarm interest. Right now, as far as Ryan Miller goes, I wouldnt say its frontburner, but theyre trying to trade him. Are we going to see some kind of mini-trade deadline prior to the freeze on February 7? LeBrun: Whats happened this week is that Ive had teams tell me that the bubble teams have started to send their lists out and say "If we pull the plug right before the Olympic break, here is the list of players that were willing to move," so keep that in mind. But those bubble teams are also using these next 10 days to determine their performance and see if theyre still in it and if theyre buyers or sellers, so those two days right before the break could be interesting. If Lightning superstar Steven Stamkos cant go to Sochi, who might step in for Team Canada? Darren Dreger: Its a relatively short list. There are at least two, maybe three players…four or five, if you really want to scratch beneath the surface and try to find a true replacement, if necessary, for Steven Stamkos. Youre looking at names like Claude Giroux or, perhaps, James Neal of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The primary reason for that is because you need that sniper-type quality that Steven Stamkos possesses, so in those two players, you definitely get that, but I wouldnt be at all surprised to see Jeff Carter elevate up the line-up and he start on the wing with Sidney Crosby, as well, as a good replacement, if not, a second option for Bab**** and the coaching staff. Pierre LeBrun: You cant discount the possibility of Martin St. Louis, given the month that hes had, and also, Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes. The reality is, Team Canada had a call last week and went over all of their injury replacements. They have a pretty good idea, but they havent made official whod be that one guy if Stamkos cant play because, right now, they think he is that guy. With six outdoor games this year, how many are planned for next year and beyond? Dreger: I would say four at the most for next year, certainly two, because youve got the Winter Classic, thats not going anywhere, and perhaps, the Heritage Classic. But the sense from both the NHLPA and the NHL is that four seems to be the right number. The ice crew that has put the rink together at Yankee Stadium has been taxed beyond belief and there will be a total of six this year and thats a little bit much, so four seems to be the likely number. cheap jerseys ' ' '
