Coventry's vital match with Arsenal was overshadowed by tragic and dramatic events off the pitch.

Supt Minshull makes a statement from Coventry

A security guard was killed before the game in an accident involving the Arsenal team coach as it arrived at Coventry's ground.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his players had been deeply shocked by the death.

The incident put into perspective the acrimonious row between Coventry and leading scorer Dion Dublin, who was fined £40,000 for refusing to play against Luton in the Worthington Cup in midweek as he bid for a transfer.

Wenger - "We were disturbed before the game. It was not eay to concentrate"

The effect of Dublin's absence was evident as Coventry's miserable run of results continued.

They failed to capitalise on a below-par Arsenal performance as the Londoners went home with all the points thanks to a 63rd minute goal by Nicolas Anelka.

Anelka on the attack

Anelka spearheaded the Arsenal attack in the absence of injured Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp, while Darren Huckerby led the way for Coventry.

Coventry began shakily and the game was barely a minute old before a dreadful back header by defender Gary Breen kept his side under pressure.

BBC Radio 5 Live final whistle match report

Anelka showed his pace to get to the ball first but his shot was blocked by advancing keeper Magnus Hedman.

Coventry, however, survived the early scare and began to surge forward.

Their first real attack brought a good opportunity when George Boateng sped down the right and crossed only for Huckerby's sliding shot to be smothered by the Arsenal defence.

Bookings

It was entertaining end-to-end stuff but then came two bookings in two minutes.

First Coventry's Paul Telfer was shown the yellow card for a foul on Mark Overmars.

Emmanuel Petit's resulting free-kick was blasted against the wall and the rebound from Ray Parlour was easily saved by Hedman.

Then Arsenal's Swedish midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg also went into the book when he was adjudged to have dived in the penalty area under a tackle by Breen.

The Gunners may well have taken the lead in the 24th minute when Overmars let fly and though his right foot shot was too hot for Hedman to hold the Coventry keeper managed to scramble the ball away.

The second half began with Arsenal increasing their domination and Coventry coming under more and more pressure.

In the 50th minute it resulted in Coventry midfielder Paul Hall going into the referee's notebook for a foul.

Arsenal goal

The pace and vibrancy of the Arsenal attack was threatening to strike huge holes in the Coventry defence.

A scorching run down the right by the brilliant Overmars had the Sky Blues defence scrambling.

He jinked inside two defenders, sped into the penalty area and unleashed a powerful right foot shot which goalkeeper Hedman could only parry away.

Anelka had the easy task of side footing the ball into an empty net.