FA Cup: Arsenal Book Place In Final After Hard-Fought Extra-Time Win Against Man City (Photos & Video)

Alan Duffy

23rd, April 2017

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Arsenal battled from a goal down to beat Manchester City 2-1 in a tense FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger stuck with his three-at-the-back formation, with Rob Holding once again starting beside Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel.

City dominated possession in the first period, but saw David Silva forced off early on with an injury.

Pep Guardiola’s side were then unlucky not to open the scoring after the ball was wrongly adjudged to have gone out of play before a Leroy Sané cross led to Raheem Sterling firing home.

The Gunners defended well but eventually went behind on 62 minutes, after Aaron Ramsey lost the ball outside the City box.

Yaya Touré promtly set up Sergio Aguero, with the Argentine striker outpacing Nacho Monreal before calmly dinking the ball over Petr Cech and into the back of the Arsenal net.

However, Arsenal dug deep and hit back just nine minutes later, with Monreal volleying home from a superb cross from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain centre, who was outstanding on the day.

City pushed for a winner, with Touré and Fernandinho hitting the frame of the goal.

At the other end, sub Danny Welbeck failed to make the most of a great chance, firing wide when he should have set up a team-mate.

The game would go to extra-time, with Welbeck missing again, this time with a header from point-blank range.

However, the former Manchester United man caused City all kinds of problems with his movement and the goal would eventually come for Arsenal.

With the Citizens failing to deal with a Mesut Ozil free-kick, Alexis Sanchez beat Gael Clichy to the loose ball and fire home, with what was his only shot of the game.

Fabian Delph then saw his shot blocked superbly by Hector Bellerin, who sported appalling corn-rows for the occasion.

Ultimately,the Gunners would hold on to book their place in the FA Cup final for a record 20th time.

While Guardiola will now end a season without a trophy as manager for the first time in his career, Wenger can still finish the difficult campaign with cup glory, albeit via a titanic clash with London rivals Chelsea.