Arsenal edged past Wigan Athletic on penalties to reach the FA Cup final after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Read Gunners player ratings here.
MANAGER:
Arsene Wenger: 6/10
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made a big gamble at the beginning of the game, selecting the inexperienced Yaya Sanogo up front, and gambling on the fitness of Aaron Ramsey.
Neither exactly paid off, even if both were industrious, but it was interesting to see that Wenger switched to 4-4-2 when he brought on Olivier Giroud for Lukas Podolski, as he rarely deviates from his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.
PLAYERS:
Lukasz Fabianksi: 8/10
Lukasz Fabianski got a hand to Jordi Gomez’s penalty, but couldn’t keep it out. Hardly put a foot wrong otherwise, and is perhaps the very best backup goalkeeper in the Premier League.
Unfortunately for the Gunners given his penalty shootout heroics, he looks set to leave Emirates Stadium this summer.
Bacary Sagna: 7/10
Bacary Sagna did his usual job of getting up and down the touchline, defending when he had to and attacking when he could. It was not the Frenchman letting down the side.
Per Mertesacker: 6/10
For such an assured defender, Per Mertesacker made an atrocious error of judgement with his challenge on Callum McManaman, putting Arsenal in a position they should never have been in on paper.
However, his goal brought back the Gunners into the game.
Thomas Vermaelen: 4/10
Thomas Vermaelen remains such a clear weak link in the Arsenal back four that even Sky Bet Championship sides can target him successfully.
Callum McManaman beat both Vermaelen and Monreal with skill and pace on numerous occasions far too easily.
Nacho Monreal: 4/10
Last season Nacho Monreal was hailed as arguably the best backup left back in the world. This term he has gone completely off the boil, and it was almost a blessing in disguise when he went off injured. Kieran Gibbs offered far more in both defence and attack.
Mikel Arteta: 3/10
Mikel Arteta’s legs have gone. Like the criticism aimed at Michael Carrick in the latter stages of his career, the Spaniard passed the ball from side without much ambition or end product.
Still, he takes a mean penalty.
Aaron Ramsey: 6/10
Aaron Ramsey is clearly not fully fit or match sharp just yet, but still looked one of the more industrious Arsenal players, showing tidy footwork and clever play.
Understandably tired in the second period, and was out on his feet in extra time and had to be replaced by Kim Kallstrom.
Lukas Podolski: 3/10
Lukas Podolski showed occasional glimpses of skill, dashing down the touchline to fire in a couple of low crosses, but contributed to the Gunners’ appalling weakness on their left flank with a poor defensive display.
The German was taken off early in the second half, which did not go down well with the Arsenal support, who knew that he was capable of producing moments of magic, but Arsene Wenger knew he had to stem the tide.
Santi Cazorla: 6/10
Santi Cazorla made a couple of nice touches, but despite his industrious play, the Spaniard was too often closed down and eased off the ball by Wigan Athletic players.
Cazorla’s delivery from set pieces was rarely up to scratch either, but he scored the winning penalty.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 7/10
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the one starting Arsenal player who ran at the Wigan defence in an attempt to make things happen, and his pace and skill looked like it would make a difference.
In the end, it was a mishit shot from the England man that Per Mertesacker headed in to force extra time, and the 20 year-old also hit the bar with a thunderous effort in extra time.
Cramped up late on and may be a doubt to face West Ham United on Tuesday.
Yaya Sanogo: 3/10
It’s hard to blame Yaya Sanogo for not being the requisite standard to play for Arsenal, but the Frenchman was bought by Arsene Wenger and thrown in at the deep end. While he had a couple of decent shots on goal, besides one effort on target in the first half, every header he attempted was far off target.
The trouble for both Sanogo and Arsenal is that there are a number of other strikers around Europe younger than him who have already progressed further, and it might be best for all parties if they parted ways sooner rather than later.
It’s a tough lesson to learn, but although Sanogo tried extremely hard, and was always willing to be played the ball, it’s hard to imagine the 21 year-old ever becoming a regular Arsenal centre forward.
SUBSTITUTES:
Kieran Gibbs: 8/10
Kieran Gibbs was excellent in defence, drastically limiting Wigan Athletic’s threat down their right hand side with intelligent play.
He also got forward wonderfully well, giving Arsenal an option on the overlap with his pace, got into the box to get a header on target which was brilliantly saved by Scott Carson, and fired in a number of dangerous crosses.
Olivier Giroud: 7/10
Olivier Giroud might be fatigued due to his exertions throughout the Premier League season, but had he been started with Yaya Sanogo instead the impact substitute, Arsenal might have avoided extra time.
The more senior Frenchman is at present a far superior striker, and his hold up play and success in aerial duels enabled the Gunners to play further up the pitch.
Took an excellent penalty.
Kim Kallstrom: 6/10
Hardly had much time to make an impact, but scored his penalty well.