Arsenal 2, Manchester City 0 – FA Cup Semi Final
Clinical finishing by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ensured that Arsenal reached a record 21st FA Cup final as holders Manchester City failed to finish 16 chances to finish off the Gunners.
Embed from Getty ImagesAubameyang could have had a hat trick but settled for two goals as Arsenal sucker-punched a City side who clearly missed the injured Sergio Aguero and were well below their best in the final third after dominating 71% possession at a deserted Wembley.
Emiliano Martinez in the Arsenal goal was well protected by his defence, only needing to save from Riyad Mahrez, as City were thwarted by a multitude of blocks and interceptions by the Gunners and were denied a marginal penalty after a VAR check at 1-0 down.
It was the first win over Manchester City by Arsenal after 7 straight defeats – since they beat City in the FA Cup semi final in April 2017 – and City’s first defeat in their last 22 domestic Cup ties since Will Grigg’s goal for Wigan Athletic put them out of the FA Cup February 2018.
Claudio Bravo would have played in this game was but ruled out with injury so Ederson retained his place in the side.
Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia, Kevin De Bruyne, and Riyad Mahrez came into the side after City’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday with Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, and Nicolas Otamendi dropped down to the bench.
The Gunners, who went with a 3-4-3 formation which maximised the effectiveness of a defence containing David Luiz, survived early City pressure to take the lead before the break.
Arsenal rode their luck after a difficult start, with Shkodran Mustafi almost handing an early goal to Raheem Sterling after giving the ball away while Kieran Tierney got to Sterling’s cutback before David Silva as the Gunner’s survived early pressure.
But the Gunners had quick incisiveness on mind, and from three early chances saw Aubameyang have a goal ruled out for offside and shoot straight at Ederson before beating the Brazilian at the back post from Nicolas Pepe’s right wing cross to take a 19th minute lead.
Granit Xhaka blocked a shot by De Bruyne after Hector Bellerin gave the ball away with City trying to be more direct from the restart.
There was drama for City as Ederson had to rush off his line to retrieve the situation after a sloppy pass out and had to be alert to dive onto a left wing cross by Pepe as City’s defence looked below par with Arsenal switching play from wing to wing.
Mustafi’s header from was tipped over by Ederson after a good Dani Ceballos corner while Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ cross was too close to the City keeper as Arsenal continued to rack up the chances.
So many City players had a poor first half as Arsenal evaded the City press and their three shots on target in 40 first half minutes was as many as they had managed in their three previous meetings with City.
Manchester City fail to test Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez in the first half
And City couldn’t even manage a single shot on target in a poor first half for them and were sent back out early at Wembley.
Sterling blazed over and pulled a De Bruyne square pass wide of the post after the restart as City looked up up a gear with Arsenal retreating.
De Bruyne’s passing wasn’t up to his usual high standards but he found Mendy on the left wing and his attempted cross was stopped by Emiliano Martinez who also saved from Mahrez as City finally forced the Arsenal ‘keeper to make a save in the 54th minute.
Arsenal were under pressure from a series of City corners put in by De Bruyne, and the Belgian put a free kick into the side netting after Gabriel Jesus was fouled by Dani Ceballos.
Sterling claimed a penalty after Mustafi slid into him and tripped him while both went for a loose ball in the area in the 64th minute but VAR chose not to intervene on the marginal decision after referee Jon Moss declined to give the spot kick.
Martinez gabbed the ball from the resulting corner after Mustafi enough of a deflection to the ball to surprise Sterling who was shaping to meet it.
Changes were made after 66 minutes, with Phil Foden replacing Mahrez white Rodri came on for Ilkay Gundogan.
De Bruyne’s cross was deflected wide by David Silva as time started to run out for City and the Gunners scored again in the 71st minute on the break.
Aubameyang latched onto a ball over the top from Kieran Tierney and raced clear to score past Ederson with Eric Garcia in his wake.
City responded by carving out another chance for Sterling but David Luiz got in the way to block the winger’s shot.
City dominated the last few minutes but ran out of ideas with Laporte curling a late shot wide but Aubameyang could have had his hat trick as City were caught out by another ball over the top by Mustafi before Kyle Walker got back to clear the ball.
Mustafi went off with a hamstring injury shortly after that as City reshuffled again with Fernandinho coming on for David Silva and pushing up front – highlighting City’s lack of a true Plan B striker without Aguero available.
There were seven minutes of added time but Arsenal had brought on extra defenders in Rob Holding and Sead Kolasinac and the Gunners held off City for an emotional win for Mikel Arteta over his old boss Pep Guardiola.
For Guardiola, the chance to play a game 7 days before the Real Madrid show down has been lost but despite saying he was satisfied with the second half showing he will also be concerned by City’s lack of finesse in front of goal without Sergio Aguero.
GOALS – Arsenal 2, Manchester City 0
Arsenal 1, Man City 0: 19. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a striker’s finish at the back post after an early cross from the right by Nicolas Pepe.
Arsenal 2, Man City 0: 71. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang latched onto a ball over the top from Kieran Tierney and raced clear to score past Ederson with Eric Garcia in his wake.
MATCH STATS – Arsenal 2, Manchester City 0
Arsenal: Martinez, Mustafi (Holding 88), Luiz, Tierney, Bellerin, Ceballos (Kolasinac 88), Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Pepe (Willock 72), Lacazette (Torreira 79), Aubameyang
Arsenal Subs not used: Macey, Sokratis, Nelson, Smith, Saka
Goals: Aubameyang 19, 71
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Garcia, Laporte, Mendy, Gundogan (Rodri 66), De Bruyne, David Silva (Fernandinho 87), Mahrez (Foden 66), Sterling, Jesus
Man City Subs not used: Carson, Stones, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Cancelo, Otamendi
Referee: Jonathan Moss