Wigan 1-1 Arsenal (AET 2-4 on pens): Wenger booed as Gunners stumble past Latics with penalty drama to reach final

Sliding in: Per Mertesacker dramatically equalised for Arsenal late on in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday

Arsenal came through a penalty shoot-out to prise Wigan’s grip off the FA Cup and give Arsene Wenger hope of ending his run of nine years without a major trophy.

Trailing to a Jordi Gomez penalty, they hit back with an 82nd-minute Per Mertesacker equaliser and kept their nerve in a one-sided shoot-out to win it 4-2. Wenger’s team will play the winners of today’s Hull City v Sheffield United semi-final on May 17.

In the shoot-out, Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was Arsenal’s hero, saving Wigan’s first two kicks from Gary Caldwell and Jack Collison. Though Jean Beausejour and James McArthur did convert, Arsenal’s spot-kicks against Scott Carson were perfect from Mikel Arteta, Kim Kallstrom, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla.

Mertesacker had earlier stooped at the far post to head in and rescue a potentially horrendous situation for the north London club. The roar that greeted it was enormous, the wildness of the celebrations beyond what might be expected against a team fifth in the Championship. But Arsenal had been staring into a footballing abyss.

Cool as you like! Jordi Gomez wheels away in celebration after scoring for Wigan against Arsenal at Wembley

MATCH FACTS

Wigan: Carson 7.5; Perch 7, Boyce 8, Ramis 8 (Caldwell, 86, 6), Crainey 7; McArthur 6.5, Gomez 7.5, McEachran 6.5 (Collison 64, 6), Beausejour 7.5, McManaman 8 (Powell 69, 6); Fortune 6.5.
Subs not used: Al Habsi, Barnett, Maloney, Espinoza
Goal: Gomez 63 (pen)
Booked: Gomez, McArthur, Collison, Beausejour
Arsenal: Fabianski 8; Sagna 7, Mertesacker 6, Vermaelen 6, Monreal 5.5 (Gibbs 63, 6.5); Arteta 7, Ramsey 7 (Kalstrom 122), Oxlade-Chamberlain 8.5; Cazorla 6, Podolski 6 (Giroud 69, 6); Sanogo 5.
Subs not used: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Akpom, Eisfeld
Goal: Mertesacker 82
Ref: Michael Oliver
Att: 82,185
Player ratings by SAMI MOKBEL at Wembley

They have endured their share of humiliations this season and the grandest, oldest manager in the Premier League has been exposed many times.

But trailing 1-0 to Wigan in this game, in a competition everyone concluded they were destined to win after so long without silverware, would surely have proved the nadir of Wenger’s 17-year reign.

That is why, when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drove a shot into the ground and it bounced across a crowded penalty area, allowing Mertesacker to guide it home, the Arsenal end of  Wembley erupted.

It wasn’t the kind of goal we associated with the football Wenger brought to England, but these days Arsenal will take what they can get.

They had started brightly enough. The pace of Oxlade-Chamberlain offered an outlet while Aaron Ramsey, starting his first game since Boxing Day, gave them fresh assurance.

When Yaya Sanogo headed Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross against the legs of Carson on five minutes, then Oxlade-Chamberlain himself sprinted on to a long Arteta pass on 15 minutes to threaten, you felt Arsenal had learned their lesson about slow starts.

On 25 minutes they went closer still, Bacary Sagna blazing over from a tight angle following a Thomas Vermaelen flick-on.

Stroked home: Mikel Arteta comfortably placed past Scott Carson as Arsenal won on penalties

Wild celebrations: Wigan were ahead for just under 19 minutes in the second half of the semi-final

Boost: The big German celebrates in front of the Arsenal fans as he nudged in an equaliser

Down he goes! Callum McManaman was hacked down by Per Mertesacker in the second half

Correct call: Referee Michael Oliver thought long and hard before pointing to the penalty spot

Big game player: McManaman had been a thorn in Arsenal's side all afternoon

Stroked home: Gomez calmly placed his penalty home to put the underdogs in front

Taking a breather: Wenger dishes out a team talk to his players ahead of a tense 30 minutes of extra time

Clash of heads: Emmerson Boyce and Yaya Sanogo bang into each other when contesting a high ball

Back: Aaron Ramsey made his first start for Arsenal since suffering an injury against West Ham in December

Rising highest: Captain Boyce lets Sanogo know he's there as the pair battle for possession

Tussle: Jean Beausejour tries to shrug Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain off the ball in the opening stages

Showing respect: Scarves in memory of the victims of Hillsborough were placed on 96 seats at Wembley

Inch perfect! Thomas Vermaelen slides in on Wigan striker Marc-Antoine Fortune to win the ball

D

Big chance! Yaya Sanogo forced Scott Carson into a brilliant early save on Saturday evening

Blood and thunder: Nacho Monreal unfairly stops Wigan winger Callum McManaman in his tracks

Driving on: Oxlade-Chamberlain surpasses Stephen Crainey and Beausejour in midfield

Just dink it! The 20-year-old just couldn't quite lift an effort beyond Carson as Arsenal pressed for an opener

Touching moment: Wigan boss Uwe Rosler passes on instructions to James Perch on the touchline

Where's that going? The busy Oxlade-Chamberlain enjoys another tussle with Crainey

What's up, Arsene? The Arsenal manager looks concerned as Lukas Podolski receives treatment

Out of the shadows: Lukasz Fabianski was given the nod to keep goal for Arsenal in the semi-final clash

Tough time: Sanogo missed two big chances in the first half as Arsenal struggled to exert control

Finding your man: Santi Cazorla beats James McArthur in midfield with a splitting pass

Watching brief: Jordi Gomez can only stand and stare as Cazorla brings down a high ball

Nervous times! Wenger, on his haunches, was booed by a section of the Arsenal crowd