Arsenal booked a place in the FA Cup final by beating Wigan on penalties to put a first trophy in eight years in sight. However, the match did little to expel the current worries over Arsenal´s form, but a final is a final and that trophy drought could be about to be snapped.
Recent poor form has dogged the Gunners, and the match itself was hugely disappointing. The fact Arsene Wenger´s men struggled to see off a Wigan team with its own problems in the Championship will send fans into meltdown. It was simply another awful display from the team, with the simple truth being Arsenal should not need to go to penalties against a team in a division below. Sadly this kind of form does not bode well for the remainder of the Premier League season.
For now though the club and the players can celebrate getting to the FA Cup Final where they will play against either Hull or Sheffield United. The Gunners have put themselves as strong favourites to lift the trophy in May, but another abject performance like this could spell disaster in the Wembley showpiece.
Arsenal started the semi final on top, passing the ball nicely and creating chances. However, it was clear that Wigan had come organized and when they got the ball the players remained calm and carved their own chances in the game. After a goalless first half, the underdogs took the lead when Callum McManaman had been brought down by Per Mertesacker. Jordi Gomez stepped up and scored the penalty in the 63rd minute.
Wenger´s men struggled under pressure for the next 20 minutes, but an equalizer arrived in the 82nd minute when Mertesacker headed home at the back post, making amends for conceding the penalty earlier. The teams continued to trade throughout the remainder of the game and through extra time, but the stalemate could not be broken. Lukasz Fabianski was the hero in the shootout for Arsenal as he saved two penalties to send the Gunners to the final, and the fans can now dream of that long awaited trophy.