Reading vs Arsenal, FA Cup: live
Head to head: Reading manager Steve Clarke hopes for an upset against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Latest: Reading 1-1 Arsenal.
GOAL! Reading 1-1 Arsenal (McCleary 54) Is it in...it's in! Pogrebynak digs out a cross from the left, and Gareth McCleary does
well at the back post to get a strong right foot on it. Szczesny
perhaps isn't expecting it, and it pops up off his body and over the
line before he can reclaim it. There's a few seconds of suspense, but
referee Atkinson signals for a goal! Game on.52 min
Reading press again, mainly through McCleary, but Arsenal stand firm.
Only a misplaced Sanchez crossfield pass halts their progress on the
counter, but this could well be the pattern for the remainder of the
match.
49 min
Mertesacker was, unsurprisingly, the target but the cross hits him on the back and creeps wide of Federici's post.
<noframe>Twitter: Arsenal FC - Half-time: Reading 1-0 <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Arsenal" target="_blank">@Arsenal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=hash&q=%23RFCvAFC" target="_blank">#RFCvAFC</a></noframe>
That was the only moment of clear quality in that first half, and Reading didn't quite have enough to prevent it.
GOAL! Reading 0-1 Arsenal (Sanchez 39) Mesut
Ozil clips a lovely ball into Alexis Sanchez, who keeps a remarkably
cool head to turn the defender, steady himself and plant a right-foot
finish into the bottom left corner of the net. Lovely pass, lovely
control, decent finish. Arsenal lead in the semi-final!
Obita dawdles on the ball, and Ramsey almost punishes him by releasing
1) A belting free-kick
2) Some last-minute drama
3) Unbridled post-match joy
"I'm now away to get me suit...MEASUAARED"
Team News:
Reading: Federici, Gunter, Pearce, Pogrebnyak, Robson-Kanu, Obita, Chalobah, McCleary, Mackie, Williams, Hector.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Ozil, Ramsey, Alexis, Cazorla, Welbeck, Coquelin.
Preview: Defender Per Mertesacker believes Arsenal have become a stronger unit from their FA Cup success of last season, but cannot allow themselves any sense of complacency against Reading at Wembley in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final.
The Gunners head into the tie on the back of a superb run of form, which has seen them win 16 from 18 matches in all competitions and up into second place in the Barclays Premier League.
The atmosphere around the club is certainly a world way from the tense finale to the 2013/2014 campaign, when Arsenal were under extreme pressure in the quest to finally end a near decade wait for silverware as well as finish in the top four of the Barclays Premier League once again, not to mention the uncertainty around the future of manager Arsene Wenger.
Those ambitions were within eight minutes of being shattered when trailing 1-0 to Wigan in their semi-final 12 months ago, before Mertesacker made amends for giving away an earlier penalty when heading home a late equaliser to force extra-time and a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out victory that in turn set up a final against Hull, which itself proved just as dramatic as Arsenal came from 2-0 down to lift the trophy.
"It is a good warning to all of us. You need to be focused 100% Reading, so it is going to be a tough one for us," said the German, who will again lead the team out at Wembley with captain Mikel Arteta still not fit.
"We suffered a bit last season on that occasion with that pressure, but it was a great experience and hopefully we can manage that a bit better.
"We are on a good level of confidence, but there will be pressure on us because we are super favourites and can we handle that during the game?"
Mertesacker added: "It is going to be Reading's biggest game of the season, so to mentally prepare for that is going to be difficult, not just to match their physicality and mental strength, but to do more, to be on the ball from the start, to show them respect, but no fear for the pressure.
"The winning streak helps us a bit, but this competition is completely different.
"It is the best competition I have ever played in because so many big teams struggle, but I don't want to struggle. I want to repeat the success (of 2014), so let's make sure that we are on the same level and do more than our opponent.
"I feel that we are really sharp and eager to repeat it. We have the chance to do it because we did well before and that is something I want to build on."
Mertesacker believes the squad have it within themselves to sustain a challenge for honours in the coming seasons.
The German continued: "To go on or to be consistent - that is a tough target, but we push ourselves.
"We want to be able to defend a title and be able to compete at the top which makes us at the moment a good team.
"We haven't shown that consistently this season because all of a sudden we lost one game [in the Champions League last 16 first leg to Monaco] and in a cup competition you cannot afford that.
"Even in the Premier League, if you lose four games, you cannot win the title, so that is something we really try to push ourselves to the next level."
The bedrock of Arsenal's resurgence has been the return to fitness of key men, which has left the likes of Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Kieran Gibbs all looking on from the bench.
Jack Wilshere could be another in contention this weekend, having recovered from minor ankle surgery.
Mertesacker believes such strength in depth can only be a positive for the squad's development.
"It is weird, but it is really good, the competition we have got at the moment. It is really something that lifts everyone at the club," he said.
"Obviously there are going to be a few disappointing situations for players, but we have to respect the manager's decision and not to let anyone down, if someone is not in the squad."
Via Jim van Wijk, Press Association Sport
48 min
Reading showing more intent from the off in this second half, but Arsenal threaten to counter with pace. Sanchez is felled by Hector, and Arsenal have the chance to swing the ball in from the left.46 min
No changes for either side at half time. We go again.18.17
Spot the unimpressed Reading supporter, as Sanchez celebrates:18.14
Arsenal's official Twitter feed isn't getting carried away.<noframe>Twitter: Arsenal FC - Half-time: Reading 1-0 <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Arsenal" target="_blank">@Arsenal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=hash&q=%23RFCvAFC" target="_blank">#RFCvAFC</a></noframe>
Half time
Not a revelatory first half. Reading shut up shop almost immmediately, and Arsenal were showing early signs of frustration before Sanchez showed some Premier League class to gather the ball and finish with the minimum of fuss.That was the only moment of clear quality in that first half, and Reading didn't quite have enough to prevent it.
45 min +1
Chalobah goes into the book for scything down Kieran Gibbs on the left.44 min
An Ozil corner is headed towards his own goal by Alex Pearce but, from the second corner, Reading break forward and almost force an opening just before half-time. Arsenal deserve their lead, however. One added minute.42 min
Danny Williams unceremoniously shoves Sanchez to the ground as he shields the ball in midfield. Lucky to escape a yellow there, as it was right in front of the referee. GOAL! Reading 0-1 Arsenal (Sanchez 39) Mesut
Ozil clips a lovely ball into Alexis Sanchez, who keeps a remarkably
cool head to turn the defender, steady himself and plant a right-foot
finish into the bottom left corner of the net. Lovely pass, lovely
control, decent finish. Arsenal lead in the semi-final! Obita dawdles on the ball, and Ramsey almost punishes him by releasing
37 min
Sanchez twists and turns out on the right wing, so much so that he runs it out of play and emphasises just how well-drilled the Reading defence has been. Space very much at a premium at their end of the pitch.34 min
Aaron Ramsey just foul-threw, and the match officals ignored it. Disgrace. Reading release the shackles, and allow Jamie Mackie to enter the Arsenal half. Not for long, though.31 min
Alexis Sanchez, in the middle of the pitch, tries to unpick the Reading lock from outside the box, but no fewer than SIX opponents guard the way.30 min
John Madejski giving some indication of how much this means to him and his beloved Royals:28 min
Laurent Koscielny is feeling his nose, after a robust aerial challenge from Mackie, but - after some treatment on the sideline - is back with us.26 min
Brief moment of panic for Reading. Sanchez races onto the ball on the edge of the box, where an onrushing - and fully committed - Adam Federici greets him. Sanchez pokes the ball past him (and out of play), there's a brief suspicion of a foul, but referee Martin Atkinson is unmoved.24 min
Reading conceded about the fifth - and certainly not the final - foul in midfield as Cazorla breaks forward. The outsiders could do with a little more of the ball here...21 min
Cazorla tries to whip a shot, but gets underneath it and the ball flies high over the bar. Reading keeping their shape quite well so far.19 min
Reading - full of Wembley adrenalin - are chasing everything in midfield, but Arsenal keep the passes popping about.17 min
Close! Mesut Ozil stands over a free-kick, 30 yards out, and right of centre. He gets the ball up and down but, it drifts inches wide of Federici and the post.15 min
Alexis Sanchez overhits another cross, this time for the advancing right-back Debuchy. The jeers from the Reading fans consist of 10% ridicule and 90% relief.13 min
Welbeck heads the free-kick clear, but only as far as Nathaniel Chalobah, 16 yards out. His volley looks goalbound but deflects over for a corner, which Arsenal clear.12 min
Jamie Mackie races through, but is denied by the assistant's flag. Koscielny might just have kept him offside but life goes on. Reading win a free-kick, 25 yards from goal. Interesting...9 min
First chance for Reading. A McCleary cross finds its way to Obita, whose fierce drive is straight at Szczesny.7 min
The ball falls to Sanchez in the box and, with minimal backlift, he pokes a shot goalwards that deflects wide for a corner. Mertesacker rises at the near post to test Federici, and Arsenal force another corner which comes to nought.6 min
It's Sanchez's turn to hit the deck after a robust challenge, but Arsenal are already well into their passing rhythm. Reading camped in their own half - tents, fires, marshmallows, the lot.4 min
Danny Welbeck races on to a long ball from Kieran Gibbs, but Federici is alert enough to smother the danger, and the ball deflects off Welbeck for a goal-kick.3 min
Ramsey is floored by an unintentional Obita arm (or perhaps a mere finger in the eye) on the halfway line. He is unhappy about it, but otherwise fine.2 min
The Wembley pitch is an absolute picture, and a far cry from the treacherous surface that saw England slip and slide out of Euro 2008 qualification. Alexis Sanchez pings the mango ball towards Aaron Ramsey at the back post, but it skips out for a Reading goal-kick.1 min
Let's do this. Reading, in their familiar blue-and-white hoops, kick this off FA Cup semi-final. This is Arsenal's 28th appearance at the penultimate hurdle of the competition, everyone.17.17
The teams are emerging from the tunnel, including Arsenal's birthday boy Wojciech Szczesny, getting the nod in goal ahead of David Ospina, who's presided over Arsenal's tremendous run of recent form. Handshakes are taking place...17.05
Hello! Wembley FA Cup semi-finals, eh? I don't know about you, but I'd like to see one or more of the following things this afternoon:1) A belting free-kick
2) Some last-minute drama
3) Unbridled post-match joy
"I'm now away to get me suit...MEASUAARED"
Team News:
Reading: Federici, Gunter, Pearce, Pogrebnyak, Robson-Kanu, Obita, Chalobah, McCleary, Mackie, Williams, Hector.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Ozil, Ramsey, Alexis, Cazorla, Welbeck, Coquelin.
12.30
Adam will be in at about 5pm to bring you the game, but before then have a read of the articles above and the preview below.Preview: Defender Per Mertesacker believes Arsenal have become a stronger unit from their FA Cup success of last season, but cannot allow themselves any sense of complacency against Reading at Wembley in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final.
The Gunners head into the tie on the back of a superb run of form, which has seen them win 16 from 18 matches in all competitions and up into second place in the Barclays Premier League.
The atmosphere around the club is certainly a world way from the tense finale to the 2013/2014 campaign, when Arsenal were under extreme pressure in the quest to finally end a near decade wait for silverware as well as finish in the top four of the Barclays Premier League once again, not to mention the uncertainty around the future of manager Arsene Wenger.
Those ambitions were within eight minutes of being shattered when trailing 1-0 to Wigan in their semi-final 12 months ago, before Mertesacker made amends for giving away an earlier penalty when heading home a late equaliser to force extra-time and a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out victory that in turn set up a final against Hull, which itself proved just as dramatic as Arsenal came from 2-0 down to lift the trophy.
"It is a good warning to all of us. You need to be focused 100% Reading, so it is going to be a tough one for us," said the German, who will again lead the team out at Wembley with captain Mikel Arteta still not fit.
"We suffered a bit last season on that occasion with that pressure, but it was a great experience and hopefully we can manage that a bit better.
"We are on a good level of confidence, but there will be pressure on us because we are super favourites and can we handle that during the game?"
Mertesacker added: "It is going to be Reading's biggest game of the season, so to mentally prepare for that is going to be difficult, not just to match their physicality and mental strength, but to do more, to be on the ball from the start, to show them respect, but no fear for the pressure.
"The winning streak helps us a bit, but this competition is completely different.
"It is the best competition I have ever played in because so many big teams struggle, but I don't want to struggle. I want to repeat the success (of 2014), so let's make sure that we are on the same level and do more than our opponent.
"I feel that we are really sharp and eager to repeat it. We have the chance to do it because we did well before and that is something I want to build on."
Mertesacker believes the squad have it within themselves to sustain a challenge for honours in the coming seasons.
The German continued: "To go on or to be consistent - that is a tough target, but we push ourselves.
"We want to be able to defend a title and be able to compete at the top which makes us at the moment a good team.
"We haven't shown that consistently this season because all of a sudden we lost one game [in the Champions League last 16 first leg to Monaco] and in a cup competition you cannot afford that.
"Even in the Premier League, if you lose four games, you cannot win the title, so that is something we really try to push ourselves to the next level."
The bedrock of Arsenal's resurgence has been the return to fitness of key men, which has left the likes of Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Kieran Gibbs all looking on from the bench.
Jack Wilshere could be another in contention this weekend, having recovered from minor ankle surgery.
Mertesacker believes such strength in depth can only be a positive for the squad's development.
"It is weird, but it is really good, the competition we have got at the moment. It is really something that lifts everyone at the club," he said.
"Obviously there are going to be a few disappointing situations for players, but we have to respect the manager's decision and not to let anyone down, if someone is not in the squad."
Via Jim van Wijk, Press Association Sport
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