Sizzling Sanchez’s goal sends Arsenal through to FA Cup final
LONDON: Arsenal will play London rivals Chelsea in the FA Cup final on May 27 after beating Manchester City 2-1 following extra time in the semi-final at Wembley yesterday.
Arsenal had to come from behind after Sergio Aguero scored his 30th goal of the season for City in the 62nd minute, racing on to a pass from Yaya Toure.
Nacho Monreal equalised nine minutes later, from a cross by Arsenal’s other wing back Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
In the 11th minute of extra time, just after Aguero was taken off, Alexis Sanchez scored the winner.
The result gave Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, an FA Cup winner six times, a welcome boost in a season that many supporters would like to be his last at the club.
Arsenal seem likely to miss out on a top-four finish in the Premier League for the first time in 21 seasons under Wenger but winning a third FA Cup in four years could well persuade him to defy his critics and sign a new contract.
“I’m very proud of our performance and the spirit we’ve shown,” the Frenchman told BT Sport.
City were unluckily denied a goal when an assistant referee ruled – incorrectly it appeared – that Leroy Sane’s cross had drifted out of play before Aguero and then Sterling put the ball past Petr Cech.
In a much livelier second half Toure robbed Aaron Ramsey and sent Aguero away from the halfway line for the Argentine to dink the ball past Cech for his 12th goal in as many games.
The equaliser arrived from a less regular scorer. It was full back Monreal’s first goal for two years.
Toure’s volley and Fernandinho’s header both hit the frame of the goal in the space of four minutes but early in extra time a weary Aguero went off and within two minutes Sanchez scored from close range after Danny Welbeck missed his kick.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said he was prioritising the Europa League despite his team being able to jump above Manchester City into the fourth Champions League qualification spot with a win in Thursday’s derby.
United’s 2-0 win at Burnley in the Premier League yesterday brings them within a point of fourth-placed City ahead of the derby clash at the Etihad Stadium.
But with the games coming thick and fast and injuries taking a toll on his team, Mourinho said he would rotate his squad again with an eye on the May 4 Europa League, semi-final, first-leg at Spanish club Celta Vigo.
Asked about the chance to overtake City with a win in the derby, the Portuguese said: “But if we beat Celta we go to the final.
“Yes it is important for us to play in the Champions League but this club wants trophies. We cannot give the club the Premier League. We have a 25 percent chance to win the Europa League and we have to put everything on it."
“I will rotate the players again, I will rest some players again
One player who could be missing on Thursday is French midfielder Paul Pogba who was replaced at the end of Sunday’s game.
l Two goals by Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke, who Liverpool sold to their opponents earlier this season, cost the hosts the chance to put pressure on the Premier League’s top two with a rare 2-1 home defeat on Sunday.
Philippe Coutinho had put Liverpool ahead in the 24th minute with a direct free kick.
The home side dominated but conceded an equaliser just before halftime when Benteke, sold by Juergen Klopp in August, scored from a cross by Yohan Cabaye. In the 74th minute the Belgian stooped to head in a corner and win the game.
Klopp’s team stay third but are five points behind second-placed Tottenham Hotspur having played two games more.
Palace, who have recently beaten Chelsea and Arsenal, moved up four places to 12th and should now be safe from relegation after a sixth win in eight games. – Reuters