Wembley Stadium, London
Saturday, April 18
12:20 p.m. EDT, 17:20 BST
- Match Officials
- Referee: Martin Atkinson
- Assistants: Mike Mullarkey and Gary Beswick
- 4th Official: Andre Marriner
- All-Time in All Competitions: 12 Arsenal wins
- All-Time in the FA Cup: 3 Arsenal wins
- Arsenal's Path Here
- Third Round: Beat Hull City, 2-0
- Fourth Round: Beat Brighton & Hove Albion, 3-2
- Fifth Round: Beat Middlesbrough, 2-0
- Sixth Round: Beat Manchester United, 2-1
- Reading's Path Here
- Third Round: Beat Huddersfield Town, 1-0
- Fourth Round: Beat Cardiff City, 2-1
- Fifth Round: Beat Derby County, 2-1
- Sixth Round: Drew Bradford City, 0-0; won replay 3-0
- Arsenal's Premier League Form: W-W-W-W-W-W
- Reading's Championship Form: L-L-D-D-D-L
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| We have to defend our silverware. |
There's a decidedly different mood around Arsenal these days as Arsenal enter Wembley as winners of their last eight games, both overall and in the league in general. Extend that streak to nine and Arsenal will be in their second straight FA Cup Final.
But, make no mistake, it's not going to be easy just because it's Reading. Arsenal did not exactly beat Burnley in convincing fashion last weekend, and the less said about that match at this point, the better. The Championship side are going to be difficult to break down, but Arsenal will have learned a number of lessons about taking them seriously from their adventure against Wigan in last year's semi-final.
Arsenal last won consecutive FA Cup titles in 2002 and 2003; only three teams have won consecutive titles on more than one occasion (and one of those teams is Spurs, so now that I know that, it's inexcusable not to equal that mark.)
We're 180 minutes away from properly defending our silverware. Come on you Gunners!
Arsenal Squad News
Out: Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin,) Arteta (ankle)
Well, this is weird. There are only two names up there.
I... I don't know what to do in this section now...
...uhhhh, jokes. I usually have something funny here, right?
Jokes, let's see... ... Two guys walk into a bar. The third guy ducks out of the way...
Ughhhhh, yeah, I got nothin'.
I guess I do have to say something. Apparently, Jack Wilshere is fit again after a second run-out for the Under-21s. There has been some suggestion that Mathieu Debuchy could return and start at right back as well. Personally, I wouldn't change a thing in an outfield that has been clicking so well lately.
Predicted XI: Szczesny, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis, Ramsey, Giroud.
Out: Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin,) Arteta (ankle)
 |
| "Ow!" |
I... I don't know what to do in this section now...
...uhhhh, jokes. I usually have something funny here, right?
Jokes, let's see... ... Two guys walk into a bar. The third guy ducks out of the way...
Ughhhhh, yeah, I got nothin'.
I guess I do have to say something. Apparently, Jack Wilshere is fit again after a second run-out for the Under-21s. There has been some suggestion that Mathieu Debuchy could return and start at right back as well. Personally, I wouldn't change a thing in an outfield that has been clicking so well lately.
Predicted XI: Szczesny, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis, Ramsey, Giroud.
Reading Squad News
Out: None
Doubts: Pogrebnyak, Chalobah
Reading's league matches have not carried the same weight as the cup as of late; the Royals have not won since they clinched a spot at Wembley. You would think that manager Steve Clarke might have been prioritizing the cup, then, but in a midweek fixture against Bournemouth on Tuesday, Clarke made only one change to the side that had started at the weekend.
That one change was striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, who was rested after leaving Reading's 0-0 draw with Blackburn on Saturday on 84 minutes with an injury. I suspect he'll still be considered a doubt for tomorrow. The same goes for Nathaniel Chalobah, who faces a fitness test.; he was removed from Tuesday's game on 67 minutes Chalobah is on loan from Chelsea because everyone is on loan from Chelsea.
Predicted XI: Federici, Gunter, Hector, Pearce, Obita, McCleary, Norwood, Williams, Robson-Kanu, Cox, Pogrebnyak.
Out: None
Doubts: Pogrebnyak, Chalobah
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| Reading put three past Bradford in their quarterfinal replay to get here. They had not scored three in a match since November 4. |
That one change was striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, who was rested after leaving Reading's 0-0 draw with Blackburn on Saturday on 84 minutes with an injury. I suspect he'll still be considered a doubt for tomorrow. The same goes for Nathaniel Chalobah, who faces a fitness test.; he was removed from Tuesday's game on 67 minutes Chalobah is on loan from Chelsea because everyone is on loan from Chelsea.
Predicted XI: Federici, Gunter, Hector, Pearce, Obita, McCleary, Norwood, Williams, Robson-Kanu, Cox, Pogrebnyak.
Current Form
Keep that form train rollin'.
Arsenal have won eight straight in the league for the first time since the Invincibles, but since this is not a league game, that's a little less relevant at the moment; they'll go for nine next weekend against Chelsea. Across all competitions, Arsenal have won eight straight since their loss to Monaco. They've also won 11 of their last 12 since the North London derby loss and 16 of their last 18 since the New Year's Day loss to Southampton.
Arsenal's odds of winning the league have fallen to a paltry 2.2% (from 2.7%) after Chelsea won last weekend, further cementing that status as "pipe dream," but their odds of finishing in the Top Four (capitalized, since it's the name of a trophy, of course) is a healthy 98.9%. Nearly three out of every five simulations sees Arsenal finish second this year.
As for Reading, they are now six without a win in the Championship after a Tuesday night loss at home to table-topping Bournemouth. They are eight points clear of relegation to League One with just four Championship matches remaining, so they are effectively safe from the drop as well. In further "non-ideal preparation," the Royals have not scored a goal in two and a half games, either. Unfortunately, from an Arsenal perspective, that means the FA Cup is all that Reading have left to play for, so you can bet they'll come out with guns blazing.
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| Reading conceded an early goal to Bournemouth on Tuesday, condemning them to a 1-0 defeat in a match they felt they could have and should have drawn. |
Arsenal have won eight straight in the league for the first time since the Invincibles, but since this is not a league game, that's a little less relevant at the moment; they'll go for nine next weekend against Chelsea. Across all competitions, Arsenal have won eight straight since their loss to Monaco. They've also won 11 of their last 12 since the North London derby loss and 16 of their last 18 since the New Year's Day loss to Southampton.
Arsenal's odds of winning the league have fallen to a paltry 2.2% (from 2.7%) after Chelsea won last weekend, further cementing that status as "pipe dream," but their odds of finishing in the Top Four (capitalized, since it's the name of a trophy, of course) is a healthy 98.9%. Nearly three out of every five simulations sees Arsenal finish second this year.
As for Reading, they are now six without a win in the Championship after a Tuesday night loss at home to table-topping Bournemouth. They are eight points clear of relegation to League One with just four Championship matches remaining, so they are effectively safe from the drop as well. In further "non-ideal preparation," the Royals have not scored a goal in two and a half games, either. Unfortunately, from an Arsenal perspective, that means the FA Cup is all that Reading have left to play for, so you can bet they'll come out with guns blazing.
Match Facts
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| Now, are you sure this happened? |
You'll almost certainly recall the cup tie when they met in the fourth round of that year's League Cup because that game was bonkers. Reading, of course, went ahead 4-0 in half an hour. Arsenal pinged one back just before halftime. Then, they scored three more, including the equalizer with the final kick of regular time. Then, Marouane Chamakh scored to put Arsenal ahead, but Reading drew level again. In the 120th minute, Theo Walcott scored a winner. Then, Chamakh scored again, just to further confuse everyone. 7-5, after extra time. Lunacy.
Arsenal won the league meeting at the Madjeski Stadium a month and a half later by a 5-2 scoreline, as Santi Cazorla had a hat trick. They won at the Emirates in March of 2013, 4-1.
Arsenal and Reading have met three times previously in the FA Cup; all three were played in Reading. You can probably guess how they went given the whole "Reading have never beaten Arsenal" thing. In 1935, Arsenal won 1-0 in the fifth round proper, though they were eliminated by the eventual champion, Sheffield Wednesday, in the following round. In 1972, Arsenal won 2-1 in the fourth round proper; they eventually lost the final to Leeds United. In 1987, Arsenal won 3-1 in the third round proper; they eventually lost to Watford that year. Contrary to the other years, Watford was not the eventual champion that year; Coventry City beat Spurs in the 1987 final (I just wanted to throw that in there...)
Arsenal won the league meeting at the Madjeski Stadium a month and a half later by a 5-2 scoreline, as Santi Cazorla had a hat trick. They won at the Emirates in March of 2013, 4-1.
Arsenal and Reading have met three times previously in the FA Cup; all three were played in Reading. You can probably guess how they went given the whole "Reading have never beaten Arsenal" thing. In 1935, Arsenal won 1-0 in the fifth round proper, though they were eliminated by the eventual champion, Sheffield Wednesday, in the following round. In 1972, Arsenal won 2-1 in the fourth round proper; they eventually lost the final to Leeds United. In 1987, Arsenal won 3-1 in the third round proper; they eventually lost to Watford that year. Contrary to the other years, Watford was not the eventual champion that year; Coventry City beat Spurs in the 1987 final (I just wanted to throw that in there...)
The Referee
You are likely, oh regular reader, familiar with Arsenal's troubles with certain referees in the past, such as Anthony Taylor (whom Arsenal have won three straight with now) and Mike Dean (whom Arsenal have lost once in their last eight matches with now.)
Well, Arsenal have lost four of their last five matches with the referee they'll have tomorrow, West Yorkshire-based Martin Atkinson. They have lost two of their three matches with Atkinson this season, and received a red card in the one match they did win. So, let's recap those, shall we?
Atkinson was in the middle for Arsenal's 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge in October, in which he gave Chelsea a penalty for their opening goal. Of course, it was a penalty, so there't that to consider... He was in the middle for Arsenal's 2-1 win over QPR on Boxing Day, in which he gave Olivier Giroud a red card. Of course, it was a red card foul, so there's that to consider... Atkinson was also the referee for the 2-1 loss to Tottenham in February, which is harder to forgive him for; Arsenal picked up five bookings on the day and I (subjectively, of course) feel that his harsh yellow to Laurent Koscielny is a big reason why Harry Kane was so open to head in the winner. Of course, that's just my opinion; any related debate with a Spurs fan on the topic would stop, objectively, if I point to the current table.
With Reading in the Championship, they have not yet seen Atkinson this season. They didn't see him last year either. Their last Atkinson match was a 2-0 loss to Manchester City at the Madejski on May 14, 2013, which came days after City lost the FA Cup Final to Wigan. He also worked a 2-1 Reading win over Everton earlier in that season.
Atkinson's eight red cards this season ties him for third in the category of most red cards; Craig Pawson and Anthony Taylor are tied for first, with nine apiece. Last year, Atkinson showed only three red cards and they all came in a five day span around Christmas, two of them going to Stoke on Boxing Day in a 5-1 loss at Newcastle.
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| "Hello? What's that? No, I would not like to switch my long-distance carrier..." |
Well, Arsenal have lost four of their last five matches with the referee they'll have tomorrow, West Yorkshire-based Martin Atkinson. They have lost two of their three matches with Atkinson this season, and received a red card in the one match they did win. So, let's recap those, shall we?
Atkinson was in the middle for Arsenal's 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge in October, in which he gave Chelsea a penalty for their opening goal. Of course, it was a penalty, so there't that to consider... He was in the middle for Arsenal's 2-1 win over QPR on Boxing Day, in which he gave Olivier Giroud a red card. Of course, it was a red card foul, so there's that to consider... Atkinson was also the referee for the 2-1 loss to Tottenham in February, which is harder to forgive him for; Arsenal picked up five bookings on the day and I (subjectively, of course) feel that his harsh yellow to Laurent Koscielny is a big reason why Harry Kane was so open to head in the winner. Of course, that's just my opinion; any related debate with a Spurs fan on the topic would stop, objectively, if I point to the current table.
With Reading in the Championship, they have not yet seen Atkinson this season. They didn't see him last year either. Their last Atkinson match was a 2-0 loss to Manchester City at the Madejski on May 14, 2013, which came days after City lost the FA Cup Final to Wigan. He also worked a 2-1 Reading win over Everton earlier in that season.
Atkinson's eight red cards this season ties him for third in the category of most red cards; Craig Pawson and Anthony Taylor are tied for first, with nine apiece. Last year, Atkinson showed only three red cards and they all came in a five day span around Christmas, two of them going to Stoke on Boxing Day in a 5-1 loss at Newcastle.
Around the League
- Saturday: Crystal Palace v. West Bromwich Albion; Selhurst Park, London
- Saturday: Everton v. Burnley; Goodison Park, Liverpool
- Saturday: Leicester City v. Swansea City; King Power Stadium, Leicester
- Saturday: Stoke City v. Southampton; Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
- Saturday (late): Chelsea v. Manchester United; Stamford Bridge, London
- Sunday (early): Manchester City v. West Ham United; Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Sunday (late): Newcastle United v. Tottenham Hotspur; St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Sunday (FA Cup Semi-Final): Aston Villa v. Liverpool; Wembley Stadium, London
- Out of Action: Hull City, Queens Park Rangers, and Sunderland
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John Painting is a contributing writer to the Modern Gooner and a goonering contributor to the Writer Modern. You can follow him on Twitter @zorrocat or Twitter him on zorrocat @follow. ... What??
John Painting is a contributing writer to the Modern Gooner and a goonering contributor to the Writer Modern. You can follow him on Twitter @zorrocat or Twitter him on zorrocat @follow. ... What??
