By Chris Wright
Arsenal 1-1 Barcelona (Pens: 4-2) – FA Cup Semi-Final – 12th April 2014
Lord alone knows how they pulled it off, but unfancied Arsenal came from behind and took FA Cup heavyweights Wigan the full distance at Wembley this afternoon – grinding away and eventually pipping the reigning holders on penalties to reach their first final in living memory.
After a stale first-half more devoid of life than the surface of Mercury, Jordi Gomez scored from the spot to put the Latics ahead in on the hour-mark after Callum McManaman was tripped by one of Per Mertesacker’s telescopic limbs as he made his way across the penalty box.
Arsenal rallied(ish) and managed to haul themselves level eight minutes from the end of normal time when Mertesacker made amends by stooping to head Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s wayward shot past Scott Carson – who had previously, with a significant assist from Stephen Crainey, pulled off a terrific reaction save to deny Kieran Gibbs.
Half-an-hour’s worth of extra-time then came and went before Wigan spaffed their first two penalties to allow Arsenal through on the inside – cue…SELFIES!!!
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(Photos: PA)