Arsenal vs Manchester City live: Alexis Sanchez fires Gunners through to FA Cup final as Pep Guardiola goes trophyless
Re-live the action from the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley
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Arsenal will play London rivals Chelsea in the FA Cup final after the Gunners beat Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley Stadium despite going behind early in the second half. The defeat means that Pep Guardiola will in all likeliness finish the season without silverware for the first time in his career, while Arsene Wenger has eased the pressure on him with a potential trophy and top four finish still on the cards. Re-live the action here.
- Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City
- Arsenal secure extra-time victory over City
- Goals from Nacho Monreal and Alexis Sanchez seal place in FA Cup final
- City went ahead through Sergio Aguero's opener
- 2016/17 will be the first time Guardiola has failed to win a trophy
- Arsenal to play Chelsea in the FA Cup final on 27 May
Follow the live action below...
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Preview...
Manchester City and Arsenal face off in the FA Cup semi-finals in what is the only realistic chance of silverware for both sides.
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger once again dodged all questions about his future at the club saying that his team’s performance in the FA Cup will have no bearing on where he will be next season.
Arsenal were gifted the easiest possible route to the FA Cup semi-finals with two non-league clashes in a row, but now they meet Manchester City for a place in the final at a time of internal controversy and on-field doubt.
Middlesbrough vs Arsenal player ratings
Show all 22Arsenal have won the FA Cup twice in the last three seasons, beating Reading and Wigan in the semi-finals, but Wenger is expecting a sterner test from Pep Guardiola’s City. The Gunners will be likely be without striker Danny Welbeck who is a doubt for the match, while defender Shkodran Mustafi, goalkeeper David Ospina and forward Lucas Perez all remain sidelined.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City may welcome Bacary Sagna and Fabian Delph who have both returned to training this week while Gabriel Jesus has also returned and may make a shock return to the team on Sunday despite there being no indication that the young Brazilian will be fit to play. Guardiola has suffered his worst season as a manager and will be eyeing a chance of reprieve from what has been a miserable season for him so far.
What time is kick-off?
The match will start on Sunday at 3pm.
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 1, with coverage starting at 2:30pm.
It’s a big match for…
Arsene Wenger. Despite downplaying the impact the FA Cup will have on his Arsenal future, Wenger simply cannot afford another season without silverware. With growing animosity among fans, the pressure for Wenger to produce noteworthy performances are growing by the day and a loss against Manchester City will only make the ticking time bomb tick faster.
Remember when…
Arsenal snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to win a record-equalling 11th FA Cup, as they beat Hull City 3-2 in an enthralling encounter at Wembley Stadium.
Player to watch…
Leroy Sane. The German has enjoyed a superb season to date and is fast developing into one of the best brightest young players in Europe. Having being nominated for the PFA young player of the year, Sane has lived up to his £27million pricetag. The forward scored the second goal in Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Southampton and his recent form may spark trouble for Wenger’s weakened Arsenal defence.
Form…
Manchester City: WWLDDL
Arsenal: WLWDLW
Odds:
Arsenal to win: 31/10
Draw: 29/10
Manchester City to win: 17/20
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's FA Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Manchester City, brought to you live from Wembley Stadium.
The two Premier League sides are competing for a place in the final where Chelsea await, following their thrilling 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon.
Arsene Wenger has won this competition a record six times, a feat that is matched only by George Ramsey and his half-a-dozen wins with Aston Villa between 1887 and 1920. However, with Wenger's contract up at the end of the season, defeat could well see this match represent his final outing in the FA Cup.
Pep Guardiola meanwhile knows this is the last chance he has of winning silverware with Manchester City in his debut season, and will hope to set-up a clash against Antonio Conte's Chelsea by seeing off the Gunners.
The game kicks off at 15:00, but we'll brings you all the build-up and team news right here.
Right, there's under an hour to go until kick off at Wembley, I make that time for some team news...
Arsenal v Man City Arsenal: Cech, Gabriel, Koscielny, Holding, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Xhaka, Monreal, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud. Subs: Gibbs, Walcott, Iwobi, Welbeck, Bellerin, Martinez, Coquelin.
Man City: Bravo, Jesus Navas, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy, Toure, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane, Aguero.
Subs: Zabaleta, Fernando, Sterling, Kolarov, Caballero, Delph, Iheanacho.
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
City unchanged from the team that won at Saints. Sterling stays on the bench, strangely. And Bravo stays in goal.
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Wembley Way filling up with fans 
29 - This will be Arsenal’s 29th appearance in the FA Cup semi-finals – the most of any team in the competition’s history. Experience.
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8 - Manchester City have progressed from each of their last eight FA Cup semi-finals, most recently in 2013 against Chelsea. Regular.
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