Arsenal's Recording Breaking Win Spoiled By Wembley Experience
Match Review: Reading 1 Arsenal 2 (AET) - FA Cup 18.04.15
For the 19th time, Arsenal will contest the FA Cup final and for the second year in a row. It sets an impressive record in the competition, but our performance in getting there was anything but impressive. Our last three trips to Wembley in the FA Cup have needed extra time, after we scraped past Wigan, edged out Hull and now have squeezed past Reading. It wouldn’t be Arsenal if we didn't make a drama of it.
Wenger made a few interesting decisions with his lineup. The most surprising was Debuchy starting for the first time since dislocating his shoulder. For such a big game and having only played reserve team football, it was certainly a risk. Kieran Gibbs replaced the in-form Monreal and Danny Welbeck also came in for Olivier Giroud. Ramsey continued on the right and the rest of the team stayed the same, save Szczesny coming in in goal.
Predictably, Reading set up to frustrate and stifle our attacking intent. They also seemed determined to foul us at every opportunity, kicking at the heels of our players and trying to make life uncomfortable for us. Martin Atkinson, usually not a bad referee to have, let them get away with a litany of cynical fouls and stopped us getting into any rhythm. We looked the superior team, but not by as much as the gap between the two teams in the leagues would suggest. It was tight and tense like last year, but unlike last year, we did find the quality to breakthrough before half time.
Our two most talented players combined for the goal, Özil with the assist and Alexis with the finish. Gibbs took the ball across the field and gave it to Özil, who somehow saw Alexis’ run before he’d even made it. The lofted ball over the top was absolute perfection and Alexis managed to control and eventually poke the ball under Federici. It was a scrappy, hard fought first half, but the goal was a thing of beauty.
Before the game I thought that we’d be fine once we got the first goal. I was convinced that we’d have learned from last year’s struggles against lesser teams and would make a professional job of it. But for some reason, there’s something in the makeup of this Arsenal team that doesn’t allow for comfortable wins on occasions such as this. Typically it was a horrible, scrappy goal that brought Reading level, with Pogrebnyak scooping the ball across goal and McCleary’s shot somehow bobbled over Szczesny and crossed the line.
Both sides had significant chances to win it before the end of the game, but Arsenal had the better of them. In a vomit inducing, cardiac arresting last twenty minutes, Gabriel saw a header pushed onto the bar, Ramsey somehow hit the post with a near open goal and for Reading’s part, Pogrebnyak totally squandered a two on one opportunity that could have won it right at the end. For a second year in a row, we faced extra time against a Championship team at Wembley.
To our credit, we dominated extra time. Reading didn’t pose much of a threat and it was more a case of whether we’d find the winner or face penalties. Ramsey forced Federici into a save, that nearly crept in. But if the keeper was lucky on that occasion though, his luck ran out spectacularly just before the half way mark. Alexis’ effort from a tight angle probably wasn’t the best option, but it took a deflection and then somehow squirmed through the gloves of Federici and rolled slowly over the line. A horrible moment for him, but relief for the Arsenal players and fans.
To be honest, I do feel sorry for Federici, Reading and their fans, it must have been a sickening way to lose. They battled hard, were over-aggressive at times, but given the gulf between the teams, they made a great fist of it. I don’t want to appear patronising, but they can definitely be proud of the way they performed on the day. As for us, we need to turn up for the final, because we didn’t really on Saturday. I know that the result is the only thing that should matter, but three times we’ve scrapped our way to a win and if we don’t perform, four times might be a stretch too far. We’re all enjoying that Liverpool choked against Villa at the moment, but it could all come back to bite us if Tim Sherwood lifts the cup in May.
Unfortunately, I’m going to finish with a bit of a rant. I paid over £100 for my two tickets to the game on Saturday, but the Wembley experience was quite frankly shite. But sadly, the worst thing was not the long queues to get in, the unbelievably loud PA or the near hour wait for a train afterwards. No, what spoiled it was the fans around me. Over the course of 120 minutes of football, there was a never ending stream of people going up and down the stairs, either going to the toilet or getting food and drink. I was sat on the end of the row and as such had my view constantly blocked by these arseholes. Not only that, but with at least 7/8 minutes left of extra time there was a mass exodus which effectively meant I could only see half the pitch.
I cannot understand why you’d pay so much for a ticket, only to miss large parts of the game because you didn’t have the foresight to pee before the game or even worse, feel that your desire to spend over £5 on a bottle of Budweiser (one of the most disgusting beers on the planet) is greater than your want to watch your team at Wembley. I couldn’t care less how long it takes to get served, or how long the toilet queue is, get in your seat before the game starts and before half time finishes. Not only does it look crap when half the stadium is empty at these points, you inconvenience thousands of people because of your selfishness. It was even worse than what goes on at the Emirates and that is saying a lot.
I spend a lot of money to go to games, like lots of people, but I pay that money to see the game. I don’t pay to see the back of your head as you realise you need a piss halfway through the half and I don’t spend it to see your gormless face as you wander aimlessly back and wrestle with the concept of row and seat numbers. If you think that your weak bladder or your desire for snacks and booze outweigh my right to watch the game I’ve paid to see, then quite frankly you are an utter bellend. If you can’t get in on time and sit your arse down for two sets of 45 minutes, then stay at home. There you can go to the toilet anytime you want, eat your greasy burgers and drink your American piss lager to your heart’s content and most importantly, you won’t be in the way of those who actually want to see the sodding game.
Teams
Reading (4-5-1)
Federici, Gunter, Hector, Pearce, Obita, Williams, Chalobah (Y) (Cox 105’), McCleary, Robson-Kanu (Karacan 90’), Mackie, Pogrebnyak (Yakubu 111’)
Subs
Kelly, Norwood, Cox, Yakubu, Karacan, Anderson, Coopers
Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker (Gabriel 63’ (Y)), Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin (Walcott 101’), Cazorla, Ramsey, Özil, Alexis, Welbeck (Giroud 72’)
Subs
Ospina, Monreal, Flamini, Gabriel, Wilshere, Giroud, Walcott
Player Ratings
Szczesny - 7/10 - Fairly solid, the goal did take a deflection but maybe should have done better
Debuchy - 5/10 - Props for going 120 mins, but looked rusty and lacking match fitness
Mertesacker - 7/10 - Did well until being forced off with an ankle knock
Koscielny - 7/10 - Also did well
Gibbs - 4/10 - Had a horror show, gave the ball away and out of position a lot
Coquelin - 7/10 - Blocky Balboa
Cazorla - 7/10 - Did a good job under constant pressure from Reading
Ramsey - 6/10 - Wasn’t awful, but I think it’s time he went back in the middle
Özil - 9/10 - Created a record of NINE chances in an FA Cup game, sensational
Alexis - 8/10 - Came good on the big stage and won us the game
Welbeck - 6/10 - Struggled and is yet to find a run of form in an Arsenal shirt
Subs
Gabriel - 7/10 - Bar one terrifying mistake, he had a good game
Giroud - 8/10 - Had much more luck against the Reading back four than Welbeck
Walcott - N/A - Not on long, but still didn’t play well
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