FA CUP: Arsenal in FA Cup Final in nine years

The Gunners eventually triumphed on
penalties at Wembley.
Arsenal beat holders Wigan Athletic 4-2 on
penalties to win a dramatic FA Cup semi-
final at Wembley after the teams were level
at 1-1 after extra-time.
Arsenal will play either Hull City or Sheffield
United in the final.
Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianksi,
selected by manager Arsene Wenger instead
of regular first-choice Wojciech Szczesny,
saved Wigan's two opening penalties from
Gary Caldwell and Jack Collison.
There was no way back for Wigan from there,
with Arsenal's Santi Cazorla sealing the
shoot-out win when he beat former England
goalkeeper Scott Carson from the spot.
Wigan, who made history last season by
becoming the first side to win the FA Cup and
be relegated from English football's top flight
in the same season, took the lead in normal
time.
Jordi Gomez's 63rd-minute penalty put them
ahead and left Arsenal, without a major
trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2005,
looking at yet another season without
silverware.
But Germany defender Per Mertesacker, who
had conceded the penalty, gave Arsenal a
lifeline eight minutes from time when he
nodded in a shot from Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain.