Arsenal have been eliminated in the fourth round of the League Cup after Championship side Sheffield Wednesday stunned their Premier League opponents with a 3-0 victory at Hillsborough.
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The opening 20 minutes of the match were marred by injuries for the visitors, with Theo Walcott having to replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain less than five minutes after kickoff, before limping off with a calf injury himself shortly after.
Arsenal had the majority of the possession early on, but the home side broke the deadlock just short of the half-hour mark as Daniel Pudil played the ball through to Ross Wallace, who drove it into the bottom corner first time.
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Getting the opening goal on the board ensured that the Owls finished the first half in a confident mood, with Wallace almost adding a second from a free kick, before crossing the ball in from a short corner to set up Lucas Joao for a header at the far post, doubling the Championship club's advantage.
Wednesday's bright spell continued at the start of the second half, resulting in Sam Hutchinson adding a third after Wallace blasted the ball forward from a free kick for Kieran Lee to cross in for the midfielder.
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It almost got worse for the Gunners in the 55th minute as Barry Bannan crossed the ball in for Joao, but the scorer of the second goal nodded the ball just wide while looking to complete his brace.
Despite being three goals down, Arsenal started to fight back with 20 minutes to go, as Mathieu Debuchy did enough to win a corner, but Per Mertesacker's header from close range was straight at Joe Wildsmith.
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Joel Campbell sprinted down the right to try to pick out Kieran Gibbs at the far post, but he was crowded out as the Owls tried to keep hold of the clean sheet.
Arsenal had another chance for a late consolation as the match headed into stoppage time with Alex Iwobi, who was making his senior debut, trying to set up Giroud, but the Frenchman overhit the ball.
Arsenal are the second Premier League side to be eliminated by Sheffield Wednesday, as the Owls beat Newcastle United earlier in the competition.
Sian Cowper
