McGoldrick strike not enough as Pepe proves too sharp for Blades

THE FA Cup was not the competition Arsenal had in mind when they loaned Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid and committed £72million to sign Nicolas Pepe.

Two statements of intent – one a club record fee – were designed to secure Champions League qualification. Almost certainly they will not, but one of Pepe’s finest displays and Ceballos’ first goal in English football meant a troubled season could end with silverware. A difficult day ended in victory.

The 13-time winners are semifinalists again, Ceballos’ injury-time decider taking them past Sheffield United. The Blades’ disappointing June ended on another low: the euphoria of a first goal in almost four months from David McGoldrick (pictured) in the 87th minute was soon negated by Ceballos’ winner.

McGoldrick felt almost as unlikely a scorer, a striker who has played 23 league games without finding the net, but when Sead Kolasinac slammed a clearance into team-mate Rob Holding, he pounced.

John Lundstram, who would then limp off, had been denied by VAR, John Egan by an offside flag and Chris Basham by his own faulty radar, as he headed wide from Jack Robinson’s cross. It compounded a dreadful day for him. Basham committed the sort of foul that often takes place on the halfway line, except he did it just inside the box. He clipped Alexandre Lacazette’s heels and Pepe dispatched the resulting spot-kick.

Pepe had a further contribution to make. After McGoldrick levelled, and Emi Martinez had denied Billy Sharp a winner, substitute Eddie Nketiah and Pepe combined and Ceballos slotted his shot beneath Henderson.

Arsenal are off to Wembley. (© Independent News Service)