'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Arsenal will be looking to end their nine year trophy drought when they meet Hull City in a few hours' time. The FA Cup was the last trophy the Gunners won in their Highbury days. It could be the first one at the Emirates and it could act as a springboard for further success.Arsenal have had some emphatic performances in the competition this yearand we take a look at how the Gunners reached the FA Cup final.
#1 FA Cup 3rd round: Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
The two North London clubs have won this competition 18 times between them, and last met in the FA Cup in 2001 when the Gunners defeated Spurs 2-1 in the semi final held at Old Trafford.
This was Tim Sherwood’s first North London Derby as in-charge.
When Tottenham visited the Emirates for the cup game, Arsenal were at the top of the Premier League table & they showed it that night with an emphatic display.
Tim Sherwood’s team arrived with lot of confidence as they had won 2-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford on New Year’s Eve. But it was Arsenal who had the last laugh as Santi Cazorla's strike in the first half & Tomas Rosicky's goal in the second sealed the game for the Gunners.
The highlight of the game was Theo Walcott’s banter with the Spurs fans.
#2 4th round:Arsenal 4-0 Coventry City
Arsenal’s reward for beating their North London rivals was a home tie against League One team Coventry City in the 4th round of the FA Cup.
The Gunners came into this game with victory over Fulham at the Emirates a few days ago while the Sky Blues were placed 11th in the League One table. 54 places separated these two clubs at the time they met.
Two first half goals from Podolski & late goals from Giroud & Cazorla were enough for the Gunners to proceed to the next round. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his first start since the opening day of the season vs Aston Villa.
Santi Cazorla & Olivier Giroud were dropped to the bench as Nicklas Bendtner & Lukas Podolski were preferred up front. The Dane had less to do as Podolski seized the opportunity to score a brace & justified the selection.
#3 5th round: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool
After convincingly beating Coventry a month ago in the competition, the Gunners hosted Liverpool for the fifth round. After conceding 4 goals inside 20 minutes at Anfield a week before, they restored some pride with a boring 0-0 draw against Manchester United played at the Emirates.
Arsenal wanted to take revenge for the 5-1 humiliating defeat at the Anfield & had the perfect opportunity to make it even.
Arsenal were lucky not to concede in the opening minutes but they grew as the game progressed. The Gunners were looking solid with Arteta & Flamini guarding the back four from Liverpool’s attacking setup.
Arsenal took the lead via Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 16th minute & Podolski doubled the lead just after the half time. Gerrard scored from the spot after Podolski tackled Suarez from behind but Liverpool failed to get another goal as Arsenal cruised to the next round.
#4 Quarter-final: Arsenal 4-1 Everton
After beating Liverpool in the fifth round, Arsenal were drawn against another Merseyside club, Everton, in the sixth round of the competition. The Toffees, who reached the FA Cup final in 2009, came into this game after winning 3-0 against Swansea City in the previous round. Arsenal’s ambitions for the Premier League title were left in tatters after the North London club was defeated by Stoke City a week ago.
Mesut Ozil returned to the first team while Yaya Sanogo was picked ahead of French compatriot Olivier Giroud. Ozil scored his first goal in three months before Lukaku scored just after half an hour. After the half time, both teams went for it and it was Arsenal who rose to the occasion.
Mikel Arteta calmly scored from the spot against his former side while Giroud came on as a substitute & scored two goals in quick succession to seal the victory. Gunners were going to Wembley!
#5 Semi-final: Arsenal 4-2 Wigan Athletic (Aet 1-1)
Wigan Athletic stunned Manchester City on their way to the semi final. With Gunner's title challenge all but over, this was a must win game for Arsene Wenger as his side was humiliated at Goodison Park by Everton in the Premier League few days ago .
The Gunners needed to raise their standards in order to beat FA Cup holders & giant killers Wigan. It was a brave performance from the Latics but Arsenal got the job done in the penalty shootout.
Arsenal dominated possession as expected but Wigan was good on counter attack. In the 59th minute, Mertesacker brought down McManaman in the 18 yard box as the Latics man was too quick for the German. Jordi Gomez sidefooted it comfortably past Fabianski as Wigan took the lead.
Another Wembley shock was on the cards for Arsenal but Mertesacker scored with less than 8 minutes to go for the full time and the game was on. The score remained 1-1 even after 30 minutes of extra time. Wigan hung on while the Gunners failed to find a winner.
Gary Caldwell and Jack Collison missed Wigan's first two spot-kicks; Arsenal didn’t miss a single kick with Santi Cazorla scoring the winning penalty. Heartbreak for the holders while sheer joy & relief for the Gunners.
Arsenal now were just 90 minutes away from silverware.
