Alexis Sanchez Again Bails out Arsenal in FA Cup Semi-Final Win over Reading

Arsenal edged past Reading 2-1 to advance to the FA Cup final, thanks to a brace from Alexis Sanchez. As has happened so often this season, the Chilean bailed out his underperforming team-mates to save the Gunners from embarrassment.

Arsenal came into this game on a terrific run, but their outstanding league form deserted them in this cup tie. Instead, this was reminiscent of their stodgy performances in the first half of the campaign. Just as he did during those difficult winter months, Alexis made the difference.

It’s not even that he played particularly well. Stationed on the left flank, he struggled to get into the game. In the first half, he was repeatedly the subject of heavy Reading challenges as they sought to minimise his impact. Lesser players might have allowed their head to drop.

Sanchez, however, is able to channel that frustration into yet more effort. He digs deep, calling on his psychological resilience and immense reserves of physical energy to try to find a way to influence the match. It’s that toughness that saw him depart Wembley as a hero. 

There are differing views on whether Wembley is an appropriate venue for a semi-final, but it remains a grand stage. Such occasions tend to bring the best out of certain players. Alexis, as he always does, embraced the limelight. When Arsenal recruited the Chilean from Barcelona, they brought a sprinkling of stardust to London. 

He owed plenty to another of Arsenal’s marquee acquisitions for his first goal. Mesut Ozil’s floated pass dropped invitingly inside the penalty area, and Alexis had the alertness of mind and balletic balance to sidestep his marker before finishing past Adam Federici. 

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Federici himself should probably be credited for the assist on the second goal. The Reading keeper marred an otherwise excellent performance by allowing Alexis’ shot to squeeze between his legs and over the line.

However, it’s worth pointing out that the error may have been influenced by how early Alexis took his shot. He regularly cuts in from the left and fires off shots with minimal back-lift, catching opposition goalkeepers off-guard. It’s a strategy that paid dividends against QPR in the Premier League a couple of weeks back, and it appeared to outfox Federici too.

Arsenal can’t rely on Alexis to single-handedly lead them to silverware. Whether they face Aston Villa or Liverpool in the final, they will need to perform far better. Arsene Wenger made several changes to the side, introducing Wojciech Szczesny, Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs and Danny Welbeck to the XI. None of that quartet offered anything to suggest they’ll be prominent in Wenger’s thoughts when the Gunners return to Wembley in May.

However, this is not a day for excessive negativity. Wenger’s men know they have a tremendous opportunity to retain the FA Cup on the horizon. With Alexis in the side, they always have a chance.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.