Reading vs. Arsenal: Score, Grades and Reaction from FA Cup Semi-Final
Arsenal survived to beat Championship strugglers Reading 2-1 after extra time Saturday to reach a second-straight FA Cup final. Two goals from Alexis Sanchez, one courtesy of a goalkeeping gaffe from Adam Federici, eventually saw off the Royals.
But for the longest time, this semi-final threatened to turn into a nightmare for the holders. The Gunners were slow, sluggish and diffident against highly spirited lower-league opposition.
Not even a first-half Sanchez goal, which Mesut Ozil superbly crafted, could mask the fact Arsenal were the second-best team from the start. In particular, the Gunners struggled with the pace and power the Royals offered from the flanks.
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Manager Arsene Wenger gambled and reshuffled the deck in defence by starting Kieran Gibbs and Mathieu Debuchy at full-back in place of Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin.
The gamble backfired spectacularly. Gibbs was beyond rusty during the first half, routinely being robbed in possession.
Debuchy meanwhile, couldn't live with former Gunners trainee Hal Robson-Kanu. The Frenchman has missed months of playing time following shoulder surgery. Throwing him immediately back into the fray for a game as intense as an FA Cup semi-final was not the wisest move.
Neither was playing Danny Welbeck ahead of in-form Olivier Giroud at centre-forward. The goal-shy former Manchester United man was on the edges of the game, before Giroud replaced him with less than 20 minutes left.
BBC Sport detailed just how ineffective Welbeck was: "Danny Welbeck departs, Olivier Giroud finally gets the nod. With 30 touches, Welbeck saw less of the ball than anyone in his team."
Changes to what had been a winning formula created a disjointed performance from Arsenal. So did Reading's relentless pressure on the ball.
The Royals constantly harassed the man in possession. It was an approach that yielded countless misplaced passes from the Gunners, resulting in opportunities for quick breaks from the Championship side.
It was all Reading after winger Garath McCleary equalised just under 10 minutes into the second half. Arsenal's cup goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny got a hand to the ball but failed to stop it squirming over the line.
There were shades of last season's lucky escape at this stage when Arsenal were taken to penalties by Championship outfit Wigan Athletic. But toward the end of the first half of extra time, Sanchez hit a rather tame shot that Federici inexplicably fumbled into the net as he tried to gather it.
The BBC Sport official Twitter feed captured an image of the decisive moment:
Selected Player Ratings
Nathaniel Chalobah: A-
On-loan Chelsea midfield powerhouse Nathaniel Chalobah was outstanding in the middle. The 20-year-old bossed proceedings with his strength and athleticism.
Yet what was more impressive than any robust qualities he offered was the way Chalobah passed the ball. He was inventive and incisive, always looking to play between the lines and create chances.
Sadly for Chalobah, he's unlikely to see the light of day at Chelsea, where manager Jose Mourinho tends to prefer experience over youth. But Chalobah has served notice that he can certainly cope at a higher level.
Not many Arsenal players should feel happy with their efforts, but pocket-edition playmaker Santi Cazorla deserved more. Cazorla was the one Gunners player who looked calm and assured on the ball.
The diminutive Spaniard knew when to slow the pace of play down and when to accelerate Arsenal's forward movement. Cazorla was typically tricky avoiding the congestion and aggression in the middle of the Wembley pitch.
Alexis Sanchez: C+
He may have netted both goals, but Sanchez was far from at his best for most of this game. The Chilean almost bundled home the opener after latching onto Mesut Ozil's clever pass. Sanchez certainly had Federici to thank for his part in the winner.
Generally, Sanchez was often over-elaborate in possession, taking an extra touch when economy would've been his friend. He also didn't win the one-on-one duels with the frequency he usually does.
Ultimately though, Sanchez was Arsenal's match-winner. Proving decisive in a big game is what the Gunners paid close to £35 million for last summer. Now Sanchez has certainly delivered.
Post-Match Reaction
The win made history for Arsenal in the most famous domestic cup competition in the world, per the BBC's official Match of the Day Twitter feed:
Gunners boss Wenger was naturally a relieved man afterwards. He felt Reading made things difficult with their physical approach, per Arsenal's official Twitter account:
Wenger still commended Reading's determined commitment:
The Frenchman felt his players slowed down under the pressure, a particularly costly mistake at the start of the second half:
On his big-money, match-winner Sanchez, Wenger felt the ex-Barcelona star made up for his struggles with typical resolve and class:
Reading chief Steve Clarke offered sympathy for his goalkeeper and also told BBC Radio 5 Live (h/t BBC Sport) his team should've been given a penalty:
"The second-half we grew into the game and found belief and found a bit of quality to get back into the game. It is a good job there was goalline technology otherwise I am not sure they would have given us the goal. We should have had a penalty in the 65th minute for a handball. You need these moments to go for us.
Federici is upset, he had made a mistake in a key game but he is a strong personality and has been magnificent for the club all season. Without his saves we would be in even more trouble at the bottom of the Championship.
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In the end, Arsenal are fortunate to have the chance to repeat last season's FA Cup success. Another trophy win would be welcome relief for Wenger, who is still building a squad that can eventually win the big prizes consistently.
