It was that time of the year again. That time of the year when whispers of an Arsenal collapse and Wenger Out claims began to murmur around the lips of the fans during an injury struck period. It was all too familiar for some. With the luck of injury’s not going our way and the lack of positive results in the home leg of a Champions League tie, not to mention yet another loss at the Britannia Stadium in the heart of Mordor.
Putting that aside though, this tie against Everton in the FA Cup was a first in a Quarter Final for Arsenal since 2011. It goes way back to 2009 to see Arsenal take foot on the hallowed turf of Wembley in spring on a FA Cup Semi Final weekend. It’s fair to say that it’s been too long for many of us.
With Arsenal’s bright form in the FA Cup this season, Wenger handed a start to his cup regulars in Fabianski, Sanogo and Arteta. There was also starts for the under fire Mesut Özil, Oxlade Chamberlain and Thomas Vermaelen, who came in for Laurent Koscielny as a precaution to the hamstring niggle the Frenchman picked up in the week.
Everton, on the other hand, gave starts to youngsters, Stones, Robles, Barkley and McCarthy. As well as their loan contingent of Lukaku and Barry with Deulofeu.
It was a beautiful day in N5, perfect conditions for football as both sides came out firing with a high tempo, looking to enforce themselves on the score sheet early on.
It only took 7 minutes for the deadlock to be broken though. Santi Cazorla picked up the ball in the final third after a McCarthy slip and made a direct run towards goal. With Özil making a darting run down the left, Cazorla was able to slip his German teammate in through on goal and the club’s record signing calmly slotted home with his left past a helpless Robles. The thing I loved most about that goal was Mesut’s celebration. There were no theatrics or over jubilant gestures, just a minute and subtle pump of the fist in relief to claim his first goal in three months, where- coincidently- came against Everton too.
A brilliant start to what could become a brilliant day. The Emirates was rocking and chants of “Que sera sera” began to ring around.
Arsenal, with the momentum in their stride, looked to pound pressure on the Toffee’s goal. The likes of Sanogo, Chamberlain and Cazorla all had testing efforts on goal alongside the raising corner count for the Gunners, but they were to no avail and it remained 1-0 half way through the first half. At the other end of the pitch, Everton began to embed themselves into the game, with ever growing confidence and flai. Kevin Mirallas latched onto a ball and squared it into the box, but Arsenal were bailed out by a man who deserves a medal more than anyone, long time servant, Bacary Sagna.
Everton began to press and press, and it was only a matter of time before they were to level the score line. It all started from an Arsenal corner remarkably. A loose ball was collected by Ross Barkley and he was able to bully an already yellow carded Mathieu Flamini off the ball. The Wayne Rooney mark two just ran and ran and ran right at the weak back line, probably because Flamini was conscious about his early caution. The World Cup hopeful continued into the right hand side of the box before squaring to a free Mirallas at the back post, whose scuffed shot was eventually tapped home by Romelu Lukaku- leaving a stunned Arsenal crowd. A furious Per Mertesacker was left there to be screaming at his teammates, barking all sorts of orders at them right in front of me. The big f*ing German is a completely different personality on and off the pitch. A real leader. Half time came and the tie was still left in either teams grasp at 1-1.
Going into the second half it only took Vermaelen 8 minutes before he committed his customary air shot which would lead to the opposition having a clear cut chance in front of goal. But luckily, for the club captain, it was squandered by Barkley. The match was becoming an increasingly tight affair, both sides were patient in their build up but eager to capitalise on their opponent’s mistake. In the 66nd minute, Arsenal finally made a breakthrough that everyone was dying for. Mesut Özil found himself in a position which he had been desperate for year since February, with the ball at his feet and a man running in behind. That man was Chamberlain. The young versatile prospect took the ball past a sluggish Gareth Barry and was eventually fouled inside the box, resulting in a penalty. A penalty with Mikel Arteta on the pitch at the same time, the perfect formula? I think so. With Mark Clattenburg being very tight and petty with his FA rules and regulations it had to be retaken, but that didn’t matter. Arteta was able to slot home and put the Arsenal 2-1 ahead. Arsenal were only 22 minutes away from Wembley, only 22.
There was still time for Everton, but yet again Barkley struck off target and it looked set in stone for the Arsenal ticket office to be allocating tickets for Wembley. 8 minutes to go and the game was sealed, signed and delivered if it had not been already. Tomas Rosicky came on and was able to keep things ticking over, he put an overlapping Bacary Sagna through down the right before the right back squared it for another substitute, Olivier Giroud, to bury home and mend the hearts of a broken relationship with the fans. The Arsenal were going to Wembley.
To makes matters worse for the Scouse, a little bit of genius from Mesut Özil decided to babysit and mentor Giroud during the game to set him up for his second of the game. It’s hard to notice at first, but it was easier to see up close during the game to see. If you get a chance tonight, take a close look at Özil in the 4th goal. As he is unleashed on goal by Rosicky from Cazorla, he tells Giroud to peel of him round the back.
Just to let you know, he’s doing this whilst looking around and asking for the ball from Rosicky. Giroud does as his babysitter asks and as it seems Özil is going to shoot he squares it to Giroud for him to pass the ball into an empty net, completing a remarkable bit of football. Game over. 4-1 to the Arsenal and Arsene Wenger and his men were returning to the New Wembley to defeat their winless drought there. After the game there were jubilant scenes, with the likes of Mertesacker, Özil and Flamini all delighted to reach Wembley and I hope, for Wenger’s sake, he starts Fabianski in the semi-finals, he’s deserved this, tremendously.
With City being my next piece in a few weeks, I’ll leave you with my thoughts on today’s man of the match. There were many contenders for today’s accolade. With the two stand out candidates being Özil and Chamberlain. But just purely due to his delightful bit of footballing genius during his goal and assist. I have to give it to him. He was absolutely outstanding today and didn’t look a penny short of that £42 million pound value.
