FA Cup semi-final as it happened: Reading 1-2 Arsenal

FULL TIME:

Reading 1-2 Arsenal (after extra time)

Sanchez hits a fairly woeful free kick but it doesn't matter, the final whistle has gone. Arsenal have booked a place in the FA Cup final after one of the toughest examinations they will receive all season.

Theo Walcott waltzes through a knackered Reading defence cutting in from the right, but just as he reaches the box his trailing boot is clipped by Williams. Arsenal want a penalty, but it is a free kick given.

Last minute of extra time. Reading need to get the ball.

Karacan looks to have freed Mackie down the inside right channel but the Arsenal backline was alert, leaving the Reading striker a good three yards offside.

Arsenal so close to finishing this! Ozil and Ramsey exchange passes to the left of the box, freeing the German who opts to move it on to Giroud rather than shoot himself. The Frenchman beats the goalkeeper, but his low effort comes back off the base of the post.

Last roll of the dice for Reading, Yakubu is on!

Obita dinks it in towards Pogrebnyak but Szczensy wins the duel and punches clear.

Gabriel steps across Williams and its a Reading free kick about 30 yards out from goal.

It's now or never for Reading. Simon Cox enters the fray, and helps the ball onto Mackie who goes for the spectacular, cutting in from the left looking for the top corner. No joy, the shot sails over the bar.

Oh no. Alexis Sanchez cuts in from the left into box and drills a low effort towards the near post. It should be a simple collection for Federici, but the ball squirms through his arms and inbetween his legs before rolling gently across the line. It's an absolute howler. Arsenal are 15 minutes from the final.

Goal! Reading 1-2 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez, 105)

Nick Howson at Wembley Stadium

"An entertaining 90 minutes has been replaced by a nervy extra-time period which has seen the game go from an end-to-end thriller to a match destined to be decided on penalties.

"Arsenal are doing all the running and you get the feeling unless Reading get Jamie Mackie on the ball more, they'll spend the remainder of the game merely surviving."

Arsenal close again! Aaron Ramsey receives the ball on the edge of the box, opens his body up and drills a low effort on goal that the Reading keeper is behind it, but it squirms underneath him and somehow floats over the bar.

Reading seem happy enough for this to go to penalties and who could blame them. Moments ago Giroud had half a chance after being freed down the inside left by Gibbs. The Frenchman looked to be well onside, but the flag goes up anyway.

Arsenal are in desperate need of some inspiration and Arsene Wenger has looked to Theo Walcott to provide it, bringing him on for Francis Coquelin.

It;s been an ugly opening eight minutes to extra time. Lots of niggly challenges, no real quality. Sort it out, please.

Gibbs tries his luck down the left and manages to lift a cross into the six yard box, but Federici can easily collect.

Cazorla tries his luck from 25 yards out as the ball breaks nicely but it flies over the bar.

And Reading get us back underway for extra time.

END OF 90 MINUTES:

Reading 1-1 Arsenal

Giroud leaps to meet it but his header is straight at the Reading goalkeeper. There goes the final whistle, extra time beckons!

Two minutes of time added on. Arsenal have a free kick 40 yards out that they can lob into the box.

Now here come Reading! Pogrebnyak races towards goal with just Koscielny ahead of him and with Jamie Mackie racing up in support. The Russian opts to go on his own however and unbelievably loses control of the ball just as he is about to pull the trigger. End to end stuff at Wembley with minutes of normal time remaining.

Ramsey hits the post! The hero from last year's final darts in from the left, under pressure from two Reading defenders and slams a shot at Federici. It comes back out and the Welshman from a tight angle has the goal at his mercy, but he can't find the back of the net!

Nick Howson at Wembley Stadium

"We're entering a period of the game where next goal probably decides who will return to Wembley next month and genuinely it is a toss up between Reading of the Championship and holders Arsenal of the Premier League.

"As sloppy as the Gunners have been in this second half, and effective as Reading have been, the chances continue to come for Arsene Wenger's side. You fancy they may only need one more."

What a chance for Gabriel! Cazorla lifts a free kick in from the right and the January signing is towering above all as it reaches his bonce. The header is mistimed however and lifted over the bar.

Arsenal are in need of some real inspiration here. Enter Olivier Giroud, who is onto replace Welbeck.

Arsenal are again exposed down the right , this time by Mackie, who squirms his way to the byline before lifting a cross into Williams on the edge of the box, He goes for the volley but he drags a fairly woeful effort wide of the post.

Mertesacker doesn't look to comfortable and Gabriel is onto replace the big German.

Nick Howson at Wembley Stadium

"Game very much on at Wembley where Reading have equalised out of absolutely nothing. Wojciech Szczesny fumbles Gareth McClearly's goal bound volley and from sauntering into a second straight final, the 11-time winners have a job on their hands. More trouble against Championship opposition."

Arsenal are shell shocked. Robson-Kanu now comes down the left and lifts a delicate cross in for Pogrebnyak. He goes for the first time volley, but it is blocked at the last second.

Wembley erupts! Reading are level as Pogrebnyak does excellently down the left, wriggling his way to the byline before clipping the ball across goal to McCleary, who has pulled away from Gibbs. He meets the cross first time and shoots from a tight angle. His effort takes a slight nick of Gibbs, enough for it to deceive Szczesny who can't claw the ball away as it crosses the line.

Goal! Reading 1-1 Arsenal (Garath McCleary, 54)

Arsenal have a free kick about 40 yards from goal and it's aimed into Mertesacker whose is towering above all in blue and white. He reaches it with a header, but cannot get any real conviction on it and the ball rolls out for a goal kick.

And we are back underway for the second half at Wembley.

Nick Howson at Wembley Stadium

"Reading have shown plenty of endeavour in the first half but class has shone through as Alexis Sanchez gives Arsenal a half-time lead at Wembley.

"The one time the Royals relented in their pressing game they were punished by the Gunners as Mesut Ozil played an inch perfect pass to Sanchez, who kept his brilliant opening season in English football going with an easy finish.

"There is plenty of time for Reading to get themselves back into this game as they chase a first ever FA Cup appearance but if the gaps continue to appear you can't help but feel Arsene Wenger's side could stretch their advantage."

HALF TIME:

Reading 0-1 Arsenal

All Reading's good work from this half is undone, and a little frustration shows as Williams clatters into the box of the goalscorer Sanchez. He avoids a booking, however.

Arsenal lead! And just as they were beginning to look a little frustrated, Alexis' class shines again. Ozil drops deep to receive the ball and clips a wonderful pass into the box where the Chilean takes it down on his chest. His first touch drags the ball away from Hector, the second slots it past Federici. Wonderful finish.

Goal! Reading 0-1 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez, 39)

Alexis receives the ball on the edge of the box and drops a shoulder before letting fly with a vicious shot. It's again charged down by a blue and white wall, however.

Now it's Chalobah's turn to slice open the opposition, finding Mackie free with a wonderful pass, but the striker is offside. His initial effort is blocked by Szczesny anyway, and the rebound is lifted wide.

Cazorla plays a delightful through ball through the middle of the pitch and Alexis is clean through! Federici comes sliding out to intercept but the Chilean pokes it to his right. Too much to his right, in fact, the ball veers wide as Alexis stumbles over and the chance is gone. There didn't seem to be any contact between the Reading goalkeeper and the Arsenal forward, and there didn't seem to be much of an appeal anyway.

Ozil and Welbeck combine neatly before the ball is worked inside to Cazorla. The Spaniard fancies the shot and takes it on, but it's a fairly rubbish one that sails over the bar. Reading will be happy enough with this so far.

Ozil turns neatly down the right and slips the ball into Welbeck who is barged over by Chalobah. The German stands over the resulting free kick and bends a fine effort over the wall looking for the top right corner, but he can't keep it on target.

Nick Howson at Wembley Stadium

"Steve Clarke said Reading had to produce the perfect performance to get close to Arsenal this afternoon and in the opening quarter of an hour they have done just that, albeit without a lead to show for it.

"Nathaniel Chalobah has closed down the space in midfield, Jamie Mackie has been a livelier in attack while Jordan Obita has been enterprising at full-back.

"Arsenal will be happy to sit in and soak up the pressure and the question remains how long can the Championship side can sustain this level of intensity?"

Obita lifts a hopeful ball over the top and Mackie is clean through on goal! He looked offside and the the flag is inevitably raised.

Reading respond well, however, as McCleary fights his way down the right flank and manages to whip a ball into the box. Obita is there to meet it with a half volley but it's a comfortable save for Szczesny.

Mertesacker denied! The big German arrives at the near post and nods his header on goal, but Federici is down quickly to make the save. Arsenal rampant in these early minutes.

There's an awful scramble in the Reading box as the Championship side desperately try to clear their lines, resulting in Alexis lashing a shot on goal. It deflects, and Arsenal have a corner.

Gibbs spots the run of Welbeck down the inside left channel and the former Manchester United man is almost on. Federici rushes out and puts just enough pressure on him and Welbeck can't steer it on goal.

Aaron Ramsey is left clutching his face after being caught by the flailing arm of Obita. There didn't look to be any real intention in that and the Welshman is soon back up on his feet.

And we are off and underway at Wembley.

Another look at those teams, then. Pavel Pogrebnyak returns to lead the Reading charge in attack alongside Jamie Mackie.

The big surprise from the Arsenal camp sees Olivier Giroud dropped to the bench. Danny Welbeck steps in, along with Mathieu Debuchy, who is making his first appearance since January.

Nick Howson at Wembley Stadium

"No prizes for guessing which set of supporters are taking time to breathe in ever sinew of the Wembley atmosphere this afternoon. Reading's fans have been arriving in their hundreds since many hours before kick-off and they have just been warmed up by the resident PA announcer at the Madejski Stadium.

"What chance do the Championship club have today? Well if you hark back to last season when Arsenal were smothered by pressure in their semi-final against Wigan, then that is enough to provide encouragement for the Royals.

"The only problem is Arsenal are a vastly improved side since that nerve-jangling afternoon and head into the game having won their last eight league matches. Having said that, they're unlikely to be as fortunate if their stage fright should return."

What's the deal with Olivier Giroud, then? The man who is one of Europe's most in-form strikers drops to bench with Danny Welbeck taking his spot for one of the club's biggest games of the season. Having scored five in his last five appearances for the club, will he feel slightly miffed with a bench role this evening?

Not to put a dampener on Reading's hopes this afternoon, but the records between the two sides don't make for good reading for the Royals. Of their 12 meetings over the years, Arsenal have a 100 percent win record. Goals haven't been in short supply either, with Gunners putting 37 past the side from Berkshire in the process.

It's not a bad evening for football as it goes. You can also keep track of Manchester United's visit to Chelsea right here.

Nick Howson at Wembley Stadium

The team news at Wembley surrounds the men at either end of the pitch. Oliver Giroud misses out for Arsenal, as Danny Welbeck takes his place in attack, while for Reading Pavel Pogrebnyak starts after calf complaint.

"Jack Wilshere is in line for his first appearance since November, during which time he has undergone two bouts of ankle surgery, after being named on the bench while in reserve for the Royals is ex-Portsmouth and Middlesbrough forward Yakubu."

Mathieu Debuchy is back in the thick of it this afternoon. The Frenchman has not played since January 11 when he suffered a dislocated shoulder that required surgery

As expected, Wojciech Szczesny has been restored in goal for the Gunners but Jack Wilshere's wait for a full return waits.

A big decision from Arsene Wenger then as the in-form Olivier Giroud is left on the bench.

BREAKING: Pogrebnyak returns to Steve Clarke's starting XI to lead the Royals' attack

Reading team to face Arsenal: Federici, Gunter, Obita, Pearce, Hector, Williams, Chalobah, McCleary, Robson-Kanu, Mackie, Pogrebnyak

BREAKING: Mathieu Debuchy returns to the Arsenal XI after his shoulder injury but Jack Wilshere starts on the bench along with Olivier Giroud

Arsenal team to face Reading: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck

Subs: Ospina, Gabriel, Monreal, Flamini, Wilshere, Walcott, Giroud

Jack Wilshere could make his Arsenal appearance since suffering an ankle injury against Manchester United in November. But today's game is likely to come too early for Mikel Arteta. Confirmed line ups are expected any minute now, we will have them with you as soon as they reach us.

Some quick team news as we await the official line ups; Reading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak is likely to be restored up front this evening after recovering from a calf problem, but Steve Clarke will be without midfielder Nathan Ake and striker Kwesi Appiah, who are both cup-tied. Another Chelsea loanee in Nathaniel Chalobah is expected to step in.

Reading's Championship status is still not secured this season, but for today, their first FA Cup semi-final since 1927 takes precedence. Arsenal, currently flying high on an eight game winning streak, have their eye on retaining the FA Cup they lifted last May, have shared some rather enjoyable battles with the Royals in recent years with the two sides sharing 24 goals in their last three meetings. That certainly bodes well for the neutrals this afternoon, but Arsenal will be wary of the threat of Championship opposition after they needed a penalty to shoot out to edge past Wigan at the same stage last season.