Kevin Whitcher
The last time that Arsenal won a penalty shoot-out in the FA Cup, it was after boring the pants off everyone for 120 minutes with a performance not unlike that of Wigan yesterday at Wembley. Attempting to contain a side with greater goal threat, they showed resilience and enjoyed good fortune. On that occasion, the 2005 final, the side that deserved to win the match lost out in the penalty shoot-out. In 2014, it was the team that did most to win the game that triumphed.
However, that really isn’t saying much. Wigan’s containment job was successful enough to take the game to the lottery of a shoot out, and that was due to the poverty of Arsenal’s attacking play. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started the game, and was the one real bright spot, with some sense of wanting to drive at the opposition. Yaya Sanogo got into position to miss a number of chances, but ultimately, it’s meaningless if he can’t convert. Too much is being placed on this young kid’s shoulders and frankly, he has been found wanting at the key moments, hence his yet to register his debut goal. He did offer more pace and physical presence than Giroud, but did not have the control to do anything with it.
As a consequence, Wigan eventually took the lead themselves from the penalty spot in the second half, although at least early enough for Wenger and his team to react.
The first two substitutions undoubtedly improved Arsenal attacking-wise. Gibbs came on for Monreal who was injured (and arguably fouled) in the build-up that led to the Wigan penalty. The number 23 improved the Gunners’ attacking threat down the left side. Then Giroud replaced Podolski and Wenger switched to a 4-4-2. Hallelujah. Some tactical reaction. Less enjoyable was the booing Podolski received from the Arsenal fans as he ambled off, but time was of the essence by then and the crowd were in no mood for a primadonna trooping off at a lackadaisical pace which symbolized much of his team’s play yesterday. He became the focus for the fan frustration and was clearly shocked by it, combined with his own disappointment at being withdrawn. He had not played well, although that can be said about many of his colleagues. Still, to hear a player booed by his own fans at Wembley is quite something, and perhaps a sign of the direction the game has gone over recent years.
Arsenal at last started to fathom more dangerous chances, Sanogo hitting the post and Gibbs having a header well saved. When Meresacker scored, my first instinct was to look at the linesman as there had been a couple of dubious calls during the match. Fortunately (and correctly) his flag stayed down. Relief for the majority of the fans in the stadium with less than ten minutes on the clock.
Extra time was necessary and it was astonishing to see Aaron Ramsey being left on, as surely the player needs phasing back into match action on a more gradual basis than this. Surely he will not start on Tuesday with Kallstrom or Flamini given the nod. On that note, at least the latter provides the team with more zip than Arteta, moving the ball on more quickly and trying to make things happen. For so much of the game, the Gunners looked ponderous, a team shorn of the confidence to have a go at the opposition. Understandable after some shocking recent results, but it is going to take time to play themselves out of the malaise, and they do not have much time. A guy sitting next to me opined that the team had fallen apart since losing Walcott to injury and it was hard to argue.
The Ox hit the bar in the best chance of the extra time, although Wigan threatened on a couple of occasions as well. Kim Kallstrom eventually replaced Aaron Ramsey, but did not do anything which made you think – this is the guy that will salvage the season.
One thing I did notice in the break between normal and extra time, with the teams remaining on the pitch, was Arsene Wenger actually issuing some instruction to his players. Why he can’t do more of this during the game is one for debate.
The penalty shoot out came and the Gunners’ spot kicks were simply better than Wigan’s. There seemed little debate they were the more deserving winners as they at least tried much harder to threaten the opposition goal than Wigan, but both teams were poor and I am uncertain this was great entertainment for the neutral. Wigan played for the result and Arsenal played in fear of an upset.
Yet getting in the final was the point of the exercise, and on that level the aim was achieved, but it was a performance that raised a lot of doubts and questions. Naturally, the view, we are in the final - who cares how, can be taken, and on one level, fair enough. Arsenal won their last trophy playing a truly dreadful match and no-one complained about that amongst the supporters. Yet, this performance was indicative of a wider malaise, and demonstrated a very stretched squad. The unused outfield substitutes were Jenkinson, Eisfeld and Akpom. They have – on paper – five very winnable matches before returning to Wembley for the final. But Everton have leapfrogged them in the league, and even if the Toffeemen do not pick up maximum points between now and the end of the campaign, can you honestly see Arsenal doing that either?
Even the manager acknowledged that the players would have been affected mentally if they had failed to win this game, but in the end, they needed a lottery to do so. Mentally, they already look shot. Tuesday will reveal whether this result is a mini-springboard, a turning point or whether we are in for more performances of this ilk before the current campaign is put to bed. If it is the latter, one suspects we will be seeing plenty of Thursday and Sunday matches next season.
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