Sanchez double fires Arsenal into the final

Alexis Sanchez scored twice on Saturday evening as Arsenal managed to fight off Reading at Wembley. For the second successive season the Gunners had managed to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup, and after a 2-1 victory after extra time last night, marched into another final. It was a difficult game and one we should have been able to win quite comfortably considering the opposition. Reading are near the bottom end of the Championship but they put up a great fight as we put in a similarly poor display to the semi against Wigan last season as the Royals made it extremely hard for us to play. However rather fortuitously, we managed to score the winning goal in the first half of extra time.

Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Arsenal reached the final of the FA Cup.

If you consider Arsenal's recent form then you'll realise that Saturday's semi-final was far from what we've become accustomed to lately. Our build-up play was slower than usual and we lacked width, especially on the right hand side. We struggled to get any sort of rhythm going throughout the match but we did create the better chances throughout the game and due to that we deserved to go through. Reading impressed me heavily. The last time the two sides met it was that famous 7-5 result in the League cup and although there was no repeat of that this time round they did look dangerous. Similarly to Burnley in our previous game, they looked to get the ball to their wide players and put balls in to the penalty area. Meanwhile with the work rate of Jamie Mackie, the defence had to be vary.

However one of the reasons I think we struggled, despite Mertesacker's lack of pace when Reading put the ball in behind, was the team selection. Undoubtedly those Arsenal players selected have quality way above that of the Reading players, but a few players hadn't played in a while and that could be told. Wojciech Szczesny did himself no favours in goal with a slight error for the goal. He hasn't played since our last cup tie and after failing to stop Gareth McClearly's effort, he reaffirmed why David Ospina has been playing lately. I don't think the defence necerssarily had a bad game but it didn't help changing around what had been a solid back four in the League. Debuchy had to play 120 minutes in his first game for three months whilst Kieran Gibbs was shaky at left back after a month on the bench. Hector Bellerin has been playing brilliantly recently so it was a bit bizarre that he wasn't in the squad at all. Changes were expected and I can understand those that were made but it seemed to upset the rhythm of the team a little.

The other change was Danny Welbeck in for Olivier Giroud. Welbeck scored against United in the last round and despite Giroud's incredible form he was on the bench. Many slated Welbeck's performance and it wasn't the best but he was always looking for the ball. He appeared to be in the areas where Reading were crowding us out though and that's why he had little impact. Giroud came in on the second half and was able to give us a more direct presence after struggling in the second period as we had to withstand constant Reading pressure.

It was an extremely poor performance and that was down to not only the changes to the side, and the way Reading played, but because we lacked width. Over the last few games Aaron Ramsey has been playing out on the right and has struggled a little despite his goal against Burnley. In the semi-final though he was ineffective. He got dragged inside too much and slowed our play down and at times we were playing without a right winger. With Hector Bellerin making overlapping runs it works but with Debuchy who is a lot more defensive we had no presence down that right. In my opinion Ramsey had a poor game which was summed up by him smacking the post from a matter of yards out when it looked easier to score than miss. Thankfully on the left we did have width though, and it came as no surprise that that was where the goals came from.

Alexis Sanchez has been brilliant this season and celebrated his PFA Player of the Year nomination with two goals at Wembley. The first was of great quality. Mesut Ozil picked out Sanchez who was brilliantly composed to calmly slot the ball between Federici's legs. The second goal was rather fortuitious though. Federici in the Reading goal had had a brilliant game, most notably he'd made a great save to deny Gabriel in the second half but his error cost his side the game. Alexis cut inside and then fired a tame effort towards goal but the Australian keeper let it through his legs and into the net. It wasn't a nice way to win a game but when you're in the semi-final you don't care how you get through.

The quality of our attacking play was quite poor but when we did look good it was because Mesut Ozil was on the ball. Everything that we seemed to create came through the German and it was one of his better displays in an Arsenal shirt. He assisted both goals, with the first being of excellent vision. Instead of finding the simple ball he looked up and played a lovely ball into Sanchez. He almost scored a free-kick and twice set-up Gabriel who almost helped himself to two goals. Such was the performance of Mesut Ozil that the compilation below is effectively a match highlights package from the game if you exclude the Reading goal.

Whether Arsenal deserved to win is arguable. Neither side created any significant danger to each other but Reading gave us too much space and that consequently led to both goals as Sanchez was allowed to drift inside and make runs off the ball leaving us with space for chances to be scored from. Francis Coquelin didn't have the best of games on what is a very large Wembley pitch and the midfield on occasion were quite sloppy. Regardless of that though we managed to reach the final in which we'll face Aston Villa after they beat Liverpool on Sunday.

Before that though we need to finish strongly in the League. Chelsea will be our biggest test in recent months and hopefully we'll able to continue our winning run and extend our lead over Manchester United next weekend by beating Jose Mourinho's side.

The team's line-ups:

Reading: Federici, Gunter, Hector, Pearce, Obita, McCleary, Williams, Chalobah(105), Robson-Kanu(90), Mackie, Pogrebnyak(111).
Subs: Andersen, Kelly, Cooper, Norwood, Karacan(90), Cox(106), Yakubu(111).

Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker(63), Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin(101), Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck(72).
Subs: Ospina, Gabriel(63), Monreal, Flamini, Wilshere, Walcott(101) Giroud(72).

My man of the match: Alexis Sanchez.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Attendance: 84,081.

Cazorla and Gervinho performances inspire Arsenal win

Arsenal put in a very confident performance on Saturday as they comprehensively beat relegation threatened Reading by 4 goals to 1. It was a display which saw Cazorla run the show whilst it also gave us a chance to see Gervinho return to form. Cazorla was once more playing outwide but tended to drift inside when the chance was open to him. Meanwhile Gervinho was a man who was showing off his early season form as he scored, and then set up two of the Gunners goals. There was also a very good display from Mikel Arteta. He sprayed the ball around the park very well and he was showing Arsenal fans a display worthy of a certain 'Cesc Fabregas' when he was at the club. His long range passing was brilliant and it summed up a near perfect afternoon for Arsenal. Arsenal's complete domination can't just be put down to how good they were as Reading made life very easy and showed exactly why they're at risk of being sent straight back down to the Championship.

In terms of the line-up Wenger opted to play, there were 4 changes from the side that had beaten Swansea. Gervinho who had scored in that fixture replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain whilst Ramsey and Rosicky (starting for the first time in the League this season) came in for the injured Walcott and Diaby. Diaby's injury being more significant than Walcott's as the Frenchman will face 8-9 months out of the game after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear. The other change came at right back as Sagna came in for the in form Jenkinson.

Gervinho was a threat all afternoon as Arsenal beat Reading

The first chance of the game fell to Giroud as the ball was lifted into the area but he failed to make a good enough contact on the ball and Taylor saved easily.

It didn't take long for Arsenal to find the net though. Santi Cazorla fired the ball across goal from the left hand side which fell to the feet of Gervinho who was left with a tap in.

Arteta then gave us an example of what I talked about as he played a Cesc Fabregas esc long ball over the top into Giroud. He was then bundled over by Taylor but somehow not rewarded with a penalty.

The next chance fell to Ramsey as Rosicky played the ball through to him but his shot on goal was blocked well by the defender.

Ramsey then turned provider as he teed up Cazorla on the right who fired inches wide.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.

Minutes after the break Santi Cazorla fired the Gunners into a 2-0 lead. Gervinho set the Spaniard up on the edge of the area and then he curled the ball brilliantly inside the near post.

Aaron Ramsey who had suffered from a lot of criticism earlier on in the season was now showing why Wenger had put faith in him as his long range effort was only just deflected wide.

Reading then managed to work their first opening of the half as McAnuff slipped in Pogrebnyak but Koscielny slid in to deny a probable goal.

However Reading found themselves 3 goals down within a matter of minutes of that chance. A Reading man gave the ball away and Arsenal capitalised. Sagna fed the ball out to Gervinho who broke down the right, held the ball up and then played in Giroud who fired beyond Taylor and into the back of the net.

The Gunners now couldn't afford to switch off but they did and before they knew it, Fabianski had conceded for the first time in almost 3 games. McAnuff did well to pick out a cross which caught Monreal out at the back post and allowed Robson-Kanu to steal in and head home.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had just come on as a sub, was to then win a penalty. Mariappa gave the ball away to the young winner who then raced towards him before being bundled over in the area.

Mikel Arteta took the penalty and he sent Stuart Taylor the wrong way as he found the corner of the net.

The final score finished Arsenal 4-1 Reading. 

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal(71), Rosicky, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Gervinho(75), Giroud(75). 
Subs: Szczesny, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Gibbs(71), Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain(75), Podolski(75).

Reading: Taylor, Kelly, Mariappa, Pearce, Shorey, Leigertwood, Guthrie, Karacan(76), McAnuff, Robson-Kanu(80), Pogrebnyak(61). 
Subs: McCarthy, Gunter, Morrison, Akpan(76), McCleary(80), Le Fondre, Hunt(61). 

My man of the match: Gervinho

Referee: Chris Foy
Attendance: 60,082 

Cazorla hat-trick seals win against Reading

Arsenal bounced back from their League Cup exit in some style as they featured in another entertaining match with Reading at the Majeski Stadium. The Gunners were rampant and were quite brilliant going forward as Cazorla grabbed a hat-trick whilst Podolski and Walcott, who was playing upfront scored one each. The defence was overall very solid throughout the night however a few sloppy passes lead to the two Reading goals and made us think that we were going to throw it all away. Luckily that wasn't the case though as Arsenal were more or less at full strength as Walcott started upfront with Podolski and Oxlade-Chamberlain either side of him whilst Gervinho and Giroud were both on the bench.

Santi Cazorla scored his first hat-trick in English football

 The first chance came in the first minute as Arsenal broke away with Oxlade-Chamberlain who played a one-two with Cazorla before letting fly from outside the box. The shot was saved well by  Federici though.

The next chance came from a free-kick as Walcott hit a shot from far out but the ball bounced wide of the goal.

Reading then had a great opportunity to take the lead as Pogrebnyak got down the right hand side and then cut the ball back to McAnuff but he placed his effort wide of Szczesny and the ball hit Pogrebnyak who was standing in an offside position.

The hosts were now finding their feat in the match and their next effort came from a corner as Shorey's delivery found Hunt but he headed over.

However it was the visitors who took the lead as Kieran Gibbs managed to get down the left flank and pick out Podolski who took a touch before finding the back of the net from close range.

With 20 minutes played Theo Walcott had a great chance to show why he should be playing as a striker as the ball was played over the top into him but Federici came out and saved well.

Just after the half hour mark Arsenal found themselves two goals in front. Podolski delivered from the left hand side and picked out Cazorla who found the net with a diving header.

Shortly after, the Gunners were 3-0 up. Walcott's cross found Gibbs at the back post who then knocked the ball into Cazorla who was allowed to turn and bury his shot beyond Federici.

Moments before the break Arsenal could've been 4-0 up as Sagna's cross found the head of Oxlade-Chamberlain but Federici sprung across his goal to make a brilliant save.

The score at half time was 3-0 to Arsenal.

With the first chance of the second half Walcott almost added a fourth. Jack Wilshere was allowed to run through the middle of the pitch and then slip the ball through to Walcott but his shot was cleared off the line by Mariappa.

Theo Walcott then had another chance as he turned outside the box but curled his shot just wide.

On the hour mark Arsenal did indeed find themselves a fourth. Jack Wilshere fed Podolski on the left who then slid the ball across goal for Cazorla to tap the ball home for his first hat-trick in Arsenal colours.

Five minutes later Reading finally scored. Kieran Gibbs' misplaced pass found Tabb who got past Wilshere before feeding Le Fondre who rounded Szczesny and tapped the ball into an empty net.

The hosts then grabbed another goal as Robson-Kanu did brilliantly to beat 2 or 3 Arsenal players before finding Kebe who fired past Szczesny for 2-4.

However the Gunners got themselves a fifth and sealed all three points as Cazorla found Walcott who got past a Reading man before slotting the ball into the corner of the net with his left foot.

The final score finished Reading 2-5 Arsenal

The teams lineups:

Reading: Federici, Cummings, Gorkss, Mariappa, Shorey, Leigtertwood, Tabb, Kebe(72), McAnuff, Hunt(61), Pogrebnyak(61).
Subs: Taylor, Gunter, Harte, Pearce, McCleary(72), Robson-Kanu(61), Le Fondre(61).

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla(82), Oxlade-Chamberlain(74), Walcott(85), Podolski.
Subs: Mannone, Koscielny, Coquelin(82), Ramsey(74), Rosicky, Gervinho, Giroud(85).

My man of the match: Santi Cazorla

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 24,125

Remarkable comeback sees Arsenal beat Reading in Cup

Arsenal pulled off a remarkable comeback in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night. The Gunners were 4-0 down to Reading but a spirited fightback from the team saw them pull 4 goals back to take the game into extra-time. Extra-time brought more goals though as Arsenal finally went on to win an incredible 7-5 at the Madejski stadium. It was an extroadinary night of football as Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick whilst Giroud and Koscielny bagged a goal each and Marouane Chamakh who was starting for the first time since January grabbed a brace. Arsenal were absolutely awful at the back and didn't cover themselves in too much glory in the first half but the attacking performance was simply brilliant as the likes of Andrey Arshavin ran the Reading defence ragged all night long.

Arsene Wenger made 11 changes to the starting lineup from Saturdays victory over QPR. Damian Martinez started in goal as Djourou and Koscielny partnered each other at the back. Meanwhile Frimpong started for the first time since returning from injury whilst Serge Gnabry started a competitive game for the first time.

Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick as Arsenal came from behind to win an incredible game

The first chance of the game came from a Reading corner as the ball was delivered onto the head of Morrison who hit the post.

Just 11 minutes into the game and Reading were ahead. Robson-Kanu got the ball out wide before finding Roberts at the back post who tapped the ball home.

Five minutes later and the Royals were 2-0 up. Chris Gunter managed to fire in a cross from the right hand side which came off Koscielny and beat Martinez at his near post.

Moments later Reading found themselves 3 goals to the good. Leigertwood struck a shot from just inside the area which Martinez got a palm to but couldn't prevent the ball bouncing into the net.

The hosts were dominating the game and then got themselves a fourth. McCleary whipped in a cross and managed to pick out Noel Hunt inside the penalty area who headed the ball home.

Arsenal's best chance of the match came four minutes from the break as Coquelin played in Chamakh but his left footed shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

At the end of the first half the Gunners were finally finding their feet in the match and then finally got themselves a goal. Andrey Arshavin found Walcott who raced in on goal before dinking the ball over the goalkeeper for 4-1.

The first chance of the second half fell to Leigertwood who once again found space just inside the penalty area to find a shot but this time the ball flew over the bar.

Arsenal's first chance of the second half fell to Gnabry as he weaved his way past a Reading player before firing a shot across goal and just past the far post.

Just after the hour mark Arsenal pulled a second goal back and it came from Olivier Giroud who had only just come on. Theo Walcott's corner found the head of the Frenchman who then found the back of the Reading net.

Two minutes from the end of the game it was 4-3 and Arsenal suddenly felt as though they could level the game up. The goal came from another corner as Walcott delivered the ball in again and this time it found Koscielny who headed past the goalkeeper.

Then with effectively the last kick of normal time and in the fifth minute of injury time, Arsenal equalised! Coquelin found Chamakh who knocked the ball down to Walcott, he then took a shot which looked to be cleared off the line but Jenkinson followed up to find the net. A goal which was later to be confirmed as Walcott's second of the night.

The score at the end of 90 minutes was 4-4 and the game went into extra-time.

Towards the end of the first period of extra time Arsenal found themselves in front for the first time in the game. Giroud found Arshavin who then played the ball to Chamakh and he struck a low shot from outside the box which beat Federici to give the Gunners the lead.

It wasn't over as there was more drama as Reading equalised. Church's shot was deflected into the path of Pogrebnyak who headed the ball past Martinez for yet another goal in this tie.

However, there was another twist as in the last minute of extra-time Andrey Arshavin ran at the Reading defence and then fired in a shot which was cleared away but only as far as Walcott who smashed the ball home for the winner.

The Gunners then found themselves another goal as Theo Walcott smashed the ball down the pitch, the defender misjudged the ball and it came to Chamakh who chipped the keeper from 25 yards for his second of the night and to seal the victory.

The final score on a simply incredible night finished Reading 5-7 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Reading: Federici, Gunter, Gorkss, Morrison, Shorey, Tabb, Leigertwood, McCleary(74), Robson-Kanu, Hunt(74), Roberts(90).
Subs: Taylor, Harte, Pearce, McAnuff(74), Church(90), Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak(74).

Arsenal: Martinez, Jenkinson, Djourou, Koscielny, Miquel(105), Coquelin, Frimpong(62), Arshavin, Gnabry(62), Walcott, Chamakh.
Subs: Shea, Squillaci, Meade(105), Bellerin, Yennaris, Eisfeld(62), Giroud(62).

Man of the match: Theo Walcott

Referee: Kevin Friend
Attendance: 23,980