Morning all.

Well that was all a bit too close for comfort, but to be honest, I wasn’t surprised at all.

Reading were up for it in every sense. A bit of bullying, a few elbows and whatever way they could, they stopped us from playing football.

Alexis was battered but he didn’t wince or make a fuss did he…. No, the little Chilean didn’t give up throughout the game and was suitably rewarded with both Arsenal goals.

Mesut Ozil at times was sublime, as was Francis Coquelin yet again…

I don’t think our boys were at the top of their game but we won and that’s all what matters, although I would say Debuchy and Gibbs looked rusty….

Reading were good, closing us down at every given opportunity in any which way they could and as long as it was allowed, they carried on in the same vein….

Alexis and Ozil combined for a wonderful opening goal, Reading pulled one back after Gibbs and Szczesny made an absolute hash of things and extra time,Β Federico had a horrid momentΒ when Alexis shot at goal somehow found its way under the Reading keeper and into the back of the net. Well, it crossed the line….

There were dodgy decisions throughout the game, Reading will no doubt feel hard done by for not being awarded a penalty, Arsenal had two shouts of their ownΒ when Ramsey was pulled over in the box and later in the game when Walcott was pushedΒ over. Although the latter looked just outside the box. Regardless, none were given.

Arsenal hit the woodwork twice. Federici was on fire in their goal, saving well at the feet of Danny Welbeck early on. He denied Mertesacker too by tipping his header around the post.

Jordan Obita tried his luckΒ from 25 yards out but thankfully, it was straight at Szczesny.

We scored after some superb stuff from Ozil and Sanchez.

Half-time came and went and it wasn’t long before Reading were back in the game – McCleary shot,Β a deflection off Gibbs and Szczesny couldn’t stop the ball from going in. Poor stuff I thought.

Gabriel replaced the injured Mertesacker just after the hour and nearly took us into the lead with a good header but Federici, somehow pushedΒ the ball onto theΒ crossbar.

Chalobah fired a shot in from distance – Szczesny saved it unconvincingly. Aaron Ramsey could have got what would have been the winner but the post got in the way.Β Reading could have snatched a winner before the end too but Pogrebnyak fluffed his lines.

Extra-time came and Federici, for the only time in the match, got it wrong, badly wrong and every Arsenal fan at Wembley and around the world were no doubt relieved. Walcott to Ozil to Alexis – goal.

We Arsenal fans know what it’s like when the keeper makes a howler to lose a match. Ours was worse, it was the final moment of a Cup Final….

Anyway, that was the game over and we are through to a record 19th FA Cup Final. Just.

As fans said on HH last night, that game should prepare us well for next weekend when we face Chelsea, another team who will bully, harass and no doubt try every and any trick in the book to stop us playing football. No doubt we’ll get a referee who let’s them do it too.

Chelsea beat Utd 1-0 yesterday to go ten points clear at the top. We won’t catch them but at least their victory gives us a chance to go four points clear of 3rd place IF we win our game in hand.

All in all, not a bad day was it…..

Gossip:

Isco is up for grabs in the summer, apparently he’s going to be sold so that Madrid can get Pogba or Veratti and Arsenal are interested. Well, according to the Sunday People and a few other newspapers. Perhaps Mesut Ozil will have a word with the player and convince him not to go to City……

Arsenal have finalised a deal with Southampton for the transfer of Morgan Schneiderlin, according to reports in the Daily Star. Really?

Ok, I’ll stop there.

Have a good Sunday guys and don’t forget to cheer on Aston Villa….