ARSENAL 2, MAN CITY 1
(after extra time)
Manchester City had only themselves to blame after losing their Emirates FA Cup semi final against Arsenal.
It was a tie dominated by City whose failure to turn territorial advantage and chances into goals was their undoing…and not for the first time this season.
Disappointing for City, they took the lead through Sergio Aguero’s 30th goal of the season, but were unable to hold on to it, allowing Nacho Monreal and Alexis Sanchez to score as the gritty Gunners produced a stirring response to falling behind.
Arsenal rode their luck, though in fairness they displayed the battling qualities that have been conspicuous by their absence in this troubled campaign.
City, however, must still be wondering how they lost. They had a goal wrongly ruled out, hit the woodwork twice, enjoyed 66-per-cent possession and had 20 goal attempts to nine from the Gunners.
City had been bidding for a third final appearance since 2011 and manager Pep Guardiola accepted his side’s fate without making excuses.
He said: “We controlled most of the tie and it was a good performance. I don’t have regrets as we competed and did everything.
“We created more chances, hit the post and bar but, just like what has happened this season, we had a problem to score.
“I am not complaining as Chelsea and Arsenal deserve to be in the final, but next season we will be better.”
Twelve-times winners Arsenal won through to their 20th final to the delight of under-pressure manager Arsene Wenger.
He said: “It was a big mental test as many people had questioned that – that is why I am so proud of my players and the determination they showed.
“We have been through a very difficult period and faced adversity both inside and outside the club which has made it very difficult.
“We have had an united response, not a divided response as we had been in a fragile position.”
City went with Claudio Bravo is goal while the highest-profile absentee was Raheem Sterling who was on the bench while John Stones was again ruled out through injury.
Arsenal were unchanged from Monday’s win at Middlesbrough, but they had plenty of firepower in reserve with Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi.
City had the first goal attempt of the game in the third minute, but Kevin De Bruyne dragged his shot disappointingly wide.
And they were far more purposeful in their play taking the game to the Gunners and a header from David Silva forced keeper Petr Cech to acrobatically turn the ball over the crossbar for a corner.
Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny had the ball in the net, but replays showed he was well offside in the build up.
City were forced to make a change mid-half when David Silva was replaced by Sterling who quickly made an impact volleying narrowly wide following a defensive headed clearance.
Aguero also appealed for a penalty, but replays suggested minimal, if any, contact from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Sterling set up Aguero who fired into the side netting, but the game was failing to live up to the high standards of yesterday’s Chelsea v Tottenham semi final.
There was controversy five minutes before the break when Sterling had a goal ruled out after a referee’s assistant claimed Leroy Sane’s cross had initially gone out of play – replays were inconclusive.
Aguero’s effort was clawed out by Cech only for Sterling to fire home the rebound.
Arsenal also had a shout for a spot kick on the stroke of half time when Alex Sanchez went down after a clumsy challenge from Kevin De Bruyne.
The breakthrough came in the 62nd minute through a breakaway from an Arsenal corner.
Yaya Toure won the ball from Aaron Ramsey just outside the penalty area and pinged a 40 yard pass downfield as Aguero outpaced Monreal and dinked the ball over the advancing Cech. It was Aguero’s 12th goal in his last 12 appearances.
Monreal atoned for his mistake by equalising for the Gunners nine minutes later ghosting in at the far post to find the net from a right-wing cross from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
City almost regained the lead when Sterling’s shot was blocked and the rebound was volleyed goalbound by Toure as it struck the upright with Cech appearing to get the slightest of touches.
Arsenal had another let off moments later when Fernandinho headed De Bruyne’s corner against the crossbar as the Gunners lived dangerously.
Gunners’ substitute Welbeck pulled a shot agonisingly wide after cutting in from the right past Nicolas Otamendi.
Arsenal had the first chance of extra time when Rob Holding’s header from Mesut Ozil’s corner landed on the roof of the net.
City made their last two changes in the 99th minute when Aguero and Fernandinho were replaced by Fernando and Fabian Delph.
City were made to pay for the missed chances as Arsenal took a 100th minute lead. Ozil’s free kick was headed back across the face of goal and was fired home by Sanchez from eight yards out.
Welbeck could have added a third goal for Arsenal at the end of the opening period of extra time, but headed narrowly wide from six yards. It was his fourth goal at Wembley, a record for a Gunners’ player.
City made their fourth and final substitution – an additional one is permitted with the semi going to extra time – when substitute Sterling made way for Kelechi Iheanacho.
A break by De Bruyne set up Delph who was free on the left of the box, but he fired into the side netting when he ought to have hit the target.
Cech then had to push away a goalbound angled shot from De Bruyne while Toure curled a shot wide as City pressed for an equaliser.