Arsenal had already managed to reach the FA Cup semi finals and doing so as the team with the most number of semis appearances. Being holders of the cup it was ever so important to win this game. Add to it this being our only realistic chance of a trophy, we just had to win it, especially after investing quiet heavily in the summer.
Arsenal had won 16 of their last 18 games, whereas Reading were struggling a division lower. Fans were expecting a trashing. But this is the cup, Chelsea lost to Bradford at the bridge. Anything could happen. Even last season we needed penalties to go through a Championship side in the form of Wigan.
Szczesny started in goal, being the cup keeper that he has become. Debuchy started for the first time since January at RB, Gibbs started at LB. Per and Lolo started in the centre of the defence.
Coquelin and Santi started as the deep lying midfielders with Ozil in his number 10 role. Ramsey started wide right again, with Alexis on the opposite flank. Welbeck was given the chance to lead the line as Giroud dropped to the bench.
FIRST HALF
Alexis had an attempt, which ultimately won us a corner. Mertesacker looked to have scored from it, but Federici made a great save to deny the big German.
Arsenal's next attempt came from the magician Ozil, who had an attempt from a free kick that just went wide. Presumably his confidence was high after scoring from a free kick against Liverpool.
Szczesny's first save was from Reading's LB Jordan Obita, who had an attempt straight at the Polish keeper.
Arsenal finally took the lead. It needed a peach of a pass from Ozil, to find Sanchez. The Chilean controlled the ball, went past one and finished low. He was having a poor game, struggling to get into the game, but had the most telling touch of them all.
Arsenal had won 16 of their last 18 games, whereas Reading were struggling a division lower. Fans were expecting a trashing. But this is the cup, Chelsea lost to Bradford at the bridge. Anything could happen. Even last season we needed penalties to go through a Championship side in the form of Wigan.
Szczesny started in goal, being the cup keeper that he has become. Debuchy started for the first time since January at RB, Gibbs started at LB. Per and Lolo started in the centre of the defence.
Coquelin and Santi started as the deep lying midfielders with Ozil in his number 10 role. Ramsey started wide right again, with Alexis on the opposite flank. Welbeck was given the chance to lead the line as Giroud dropped to the bench.
FIRST HALF
Alexis had an attempt, which ultimately won us a corner. Mertesacker looked to have scored from it, but Federici made a great save to deny the big German.
Arsenal's next attempt came from the magician Ozil, who had an attempt from a free kick that just went wide. Presumably his confidence was high after scoring from a free kick against Liverpool.
Szczesny's first save was from Reading's LB Jordan Obita, who had an attempt straight at the Polish keeper.
Arsenal finally took the lead. It needed a peach of a pass from Ozil, to find Sanchez. The Chilean controlled the ball, went past one and finished low. He was having a poor game, struggling to get into the game, but had the most telling touch of them all.
The half ended 1-0 to the Arsenal and it only seemed like the Reading floodgates would open up after the break.
SECOND HALF
Reading started the better of the 2 teams and were rewarded within 9 minutes of the half. Pavel Pogrebnyak got to the byline and clipped the ball back for McCleary. His first-time effort deflected off
Gibbs, Szczesny could and should have saved the ball from reaching the goal.
Suddenly the atmosphere changed at the stadium, Arsenal had to pick the tempo up. Mertesacker got injured and had to be subbed off for Gabriel, making his debut at Wembley.
He immediately had a chance to give us back the lead when he headed a corner and Federici made an outstanding save to deny him.
Reading player Daniel Williams then missed a golden opportunity to give his team the lead.
Gabriel then missed another chance, this time heading over from 6 yards from an Ozil freekick.
A long range attempt from both sides followed and Arsenal were in desperate need of some sort of inspiration.
Ozil, Giroud, Sanchez and Ramsey interchanged passes beautifully, Ramsey then had an attempt saved by Federici, but the ball fell to Ramsey who had an open goal to aim at. His left foot volley hit the post and that was full time.
EXTRA TIME
Cazorla had a long range attempt and so did Ramsey, Ramsey's shot bringing a save out of Federici.
The Reading goalkeeper was one of the main reasons the score remained level, but his fault gave Arsenal the lead. Sanchez after receiving the pass from Ozil had a weak attempt go through Federici and give Arsenal the lead again.
Jamie Mackie shot over after a fine run early in the second period of extra time but Arsenal looked strong on the break, and Giroud fired against a post with eight minutes left.
Reading struggled to reach the finish line, their stubborn resistance broken. Arsenal sealed a final berth for the second consecutive season. Most number of finals for a team as well in the FA Cup. We go again.
PLAYER RATINGS
1: Wojiech Szczesny (5.5): Should have saved the goal, not helping Wenger with his poor performances.
2: Mathieu Debuchy (6.5): Got much needed game time, but looked really rusty at times, as expected.
6: Laurent Koscielny (7): Did his job well enough.
4: Per Mertesacker (6.5): Was doing OK before an injury forced him off.
3: Kieran Gibbs (5): Not going to win your place back like that Gibbo!
34: Francis Coquelin (7): Went around doing what he does always. A few misplaced passes did not help.
19: Santi Cazorla (7): Tried his best to control the game. Had a few long range attempts.
16: Aaron Ramsey (6.5): Should have scored, but did well towards the end of the game.
17: Alexis Sanchez (8): Did not have his best game, yet managed 2 goals!
11: Mesut Ozil (8.5): Created 9 chances in the game. The highest ever by an individual in the FA Cup. Got both assists as well.
23: Danny Welbeck (5.5): Never really got into the game.
SUBSTITUTES:
5: Gabriel Paulista (7): Should have scored 1, did his defensive job well.
12: Olivier Giroud (7.5): Made a change in the game after coming on, held the ball up superbly and unlucky to hit the post.
14: Theo Walcott (6.5): Did decently given his lack of game time.
HIGHLIGHTS
SECOND HALF
Reading started the better of the 2 teams and were rewarded within 9 minutes of the half. Pavel Pogrebnyak got to the byline and clipped the ball back for McCleary. His first-time effort deflected off
Gibbs, Szczesny could and should have saved the ball from reaching the goal.
Suddenly the atmosphere changed at the stadium, Arsenal had to pick the tempo up. Mertesacker got injured and had to be subbed off for Gabriel, making his debut at Wembley.
He immediately had a chance to give us back the lead when he headed a corner and Federici made an outstanding save to deny him.
Reading player Daniel Williams then missed a golden opportunity to give his team the lead.
Gabriel then missed another chance, this time heading over from 6 yards from an Ozil freekick.
A long range attempt from both sides followed and Arsenal were in desperate need of some sort of inspiration.
Ozil, Giroud, Sanchez and Ramsey interchanged passes beautifully, Ramsey then had an attempt saved by Federici, but the ball fell to Ramsey who had an open goal to aim at. His left foot volley hit the post and that was full time.
EXTRA TIME
Cazorla had a long range attempt and so did Ramsey, Ramsey's shot bringing a save out of Federici.
The Reading goalkeeper was one of the main reasons the score remained level, but his fault gave Arsenal the lead. Sanchez after receiving the pass from Ozil had a weak attempt go through Federici and give Arsenal the lead again.
Jamie Mackie shot over after a fine run early in the second period of extra time but Arsenal looked strong on the break, and Giroud fired against a post with eight minutes left.
Reading struggled to reach the finish line, their stubborn resistance broken. Arsenal sealed a final berth for the second consecutive season. Most number of finals for a team as well in the FA Cup. We go again.
PLAYER RATINGS
1: Wojiech Szczesny (5.5): Should have saved the goal, not helping Wenger with his poor performances.
2: Mathieu Debuchy (6.5): Got much needed game time, but looked really rusty at times, as expected.
6: Laurent Koscielny (7): Did his job well enough.
4: Per Mertesacker (6.5): Was doing OK before an injury forced him off.
3: Kieran Gibbs (5): Not going to win your place back like that Gibbo!
34: Francis Coquelin (7): Went around doing what he does always. A few misplaced passes did not help.
19: Santi Cazorla (7): Tried his best to control the game. Had a few long range attempts.
16: Aaron Ramsey (6.5): Should have scored, but did well towards the end of the game.
17: Alexis Sanchez (8): Did not have his best game, yet managed 2 goals!
11: Mesut Ozil (8.5): Created 9 chances in the game. The highest ever by an individual in the FA Cup. Got both assists as well.
23: Danny Welbeck (5.5): Never really got into the game.
SUBSTITUTES:
5: Gabriel Paulista (7): Should have scored 1, did his defensive job well.
12: Olivier Giroud (7.5): Made a change in the game after coming on, held the ball up superbly and unlucky to hit the post.
14: Theo Walcott (6.5): Did decently given his lack of game time.
HIGHLIGHTS