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Arsene Wenger delighted with Arsenal's 'united response' to send fans home happy and reach FA Cup final

After their slump in form left them 'mentally fragile', Arsenal fought from behind to beat Manchester City and move to just 90 minutes away from Wenger's seventh FA Cup

Jack Pitt-Brooke

Wembley Stadium

Sunday 23 April 2017 20:26 BST

Arsene Wenger celebrates Arsenal's 2-1 FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester City (Getty)

Arsene Wenger was thrilled that Arsenal showed a “united response” at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, coming from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 in an enthralling FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

After weeks of discord and anger at Arsenal, in which the fans turned on the players and on Wenger himself, they were all united behind him at Wembley. Arsenal now find themselves in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, something that few thought possible given their recent struggles.

Wenger would surely have felt a sense of personal vindication but he said that it was the support of the crowd that pleased him the most today. “When you see the stands and see how big this club is, I just feel happy when the fans go home tonight,” Wenger said. “When fans go home happy I feel happy. When we don’t win games I feel sad, because I don’t feel I give what people want.”

For the Arsenal fans to be so supportive on Sunday suggests that there is a more harmonious future possible for Arsenal even if many fans would rather Wenger was replaced, rather than retained, this summer. “We have gone through a very difficult period,” Wenger said. “We faced some adversity that made the situation more difficult from inside as well. We showed a united response not a divided response. Mentally, we were in a fragile position.”

What pleased Wenger the most about his team’s performance was that they passed the “mental test”. Sergio Aguero gave City the lead early in the second half but Arsenal equalised through Nacho Monreal before Alexis Sanchez won the game in extra-time. Few would have expected that when City went 1-0 up.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

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1/22Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Arsenal Petr Cech 6 out of 10

His goal was shielded ably by Arsenal’s backline, but when called upon he was not found wanting, saving well down low from De Bruyne early on. He might, though, have done better for Toure’s goal.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Bellerin 6 out of 10

Back to his best at both ends, particularly putting in a tidy shift defensively where he cut out several attempts to spread the play out wide.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Mertesacker 7 out of 10

Dominant in the air throughout. City had plenty of corners but with Mertesacker in the area Arsenal never looked threatened.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Koscielny 7 out of 10

Set the tone as early as the third minute when he whipped the ball off Aguero’s feet as he looked to break. Bar one miskick in the first half this was excellent from Koscielny, who tidied up loose passing from City well.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Monreal 6 out of 10

Solid in defence and valuable in attack just like his compatriot at the other end. Early on he let De Bruyne break too often but he soon fixed that.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Flamini 6 out of 10

Took it upon himself to stick to Silva throughout and so he deserves credit for the tough time City’s playmaker had. At times he can be bypassed too easily on the counter attack but his organisation of the backline was critical.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Ramsey 7 out of 10

All the questions around Ramsey ahead of the game were about his defensive game; he answered them in style time and again. His tackle count may not be the highest, but he was always back doing his duty. In the second half he embraced his licence to bomb on against City’s diffident backline and could have had a goal.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Campbell 8 out of 10

A 40 yard sprint to add ballast to defence in an early City counter typified everything that has been good about Campbell. Committed at both ends of the field he brought perfect balance to the lineup, whilst his understanding with Bellerin improves by the day. Deserved a goal to seal a man of the match display.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Ozil 8 out of 10

Of course he registered yet another pair of assists, even though the City midfield attempted to surround him from minute one to minute 90. His eye for a pass was yet again sublime as he offered further proof he could be relied on in the biggest games.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Walcott 7 out of 10

He’s not in the side to track back. Nor to add to the build-up. Or to press the opposition. Wenger picked him because given a half-chance he will probably hit the target, as he showed quite emphatically for the opening goal. What more could be asked of him?

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Giroud 7 out of 10

An exemplary display of what a target man should do in the modern age. He relished aerial battles with Mangala and Otamendi but brought his team-mates into the game equally well when he had the ball at his feet. Another goal capped off a fine display.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Hart 7 out of 10

Equipped himself rather well considering the porous nature of his backline, as time and again he was called upon to make close-range saves when his team-mates allowed opponents to burst through. Might have done better for the second goal though, when Giroud fired through his legs.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Sagna 5 out of 10

After so many years at the Emirates you might have thought Sagna would know not to allow Walcott to cut in on to his right, but that’s what he allowed him to do. Though Arsenal rarely attacked down the left when they did they got plenty of joy against a slow Sagna.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Otamendi 4 out of 10

He lacks for nothing except application, and it showed tonight as Giroud found that simply wanting the ball more than his disinterested opponent would ensure he won it. On one occasion he seemed to simply fall over rather than bother competing with Giroud.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Mangala 4 out of 10

At times this was a display of staggering incompetence from a player valued at over £30 million just a year ago. They’d do well to get a tenth of that after a display in which he gave the ball away in critical areas time and again, contributing decisively to Arsenal’s second.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Kolarov 6 out of 10

A decent display, at least compared to his team-mates. He bombed forward with purpose and did his best to repel the dangerous double-act of Bellerin and Campbell.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

De Bruyne 6 out of 10

A performance packed with bright moments but hardly game-changing ones, for instance when he burst through on Cech’s goal before dragging his shot wide when Silva was well-placed. An almost anti-Walcott display; lots of possession, minimal output.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Toure 5 out of 10

City’s engine room was running on fumes tonight. Though his running looked like that of an injured man he might then at least have focused his attentions on defence, but too often he allowed failed to keep up with Ozil. In many ways his goal only served to enhance the frustration he brought, why wait 80 minutes to do something so brilliant?

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Fernandinho 5 out of 10

On so many occasion he seemed to be caught out from behind by an Arsenal player challenging from the ball as he was one of several players to not show the required intensity for a top of the table match. He scarcely moved from the middle third of the pitch in attack or defence.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Delph 5 out of 10

No surprise whatsoever that he was hooked off at half-time. Pellegrini had said his role was to offer cover down the left, but he never tamed Bellerin’s forward runs and was muscled off the ball by Campbell.

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Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Silva 5 out of 10

Not the only player to look lacking in match sharpness; even his famed passing was off the mark too often. Well-tracked by Flamini but he never forced the issue by dropping deep or moving wide.

Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings

Aguero 5 out of 10

Despite several days of first-team training he did not look remotely fit enough for this game and was overpowered and quite easily managed by Mertesacker and Koscielny, though in his defence his team-mates gave him little to work with.

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“We had a strong response today,” Wenger said. “We grew into the game and slowly became better and better. In the second half, I felt we were very strong. In extra-time we were very strong. It was a big test for us today, a mental test. Many people questioned that, whether can we turn up on an occasion like that. I am very proud for the players. They showed united, determined and playful response.”

Aaron Ramsey said that the Arsenal players produced their performance for Wenger today and there is a sense that they have let him down with some of their recent performances. But Wenger said he took more pleasure in their success than in their spoken support.

“I want them to enjoy playing together, playing for the club and to reach the targets that we set for them together,” He said. “Football is a team sport and as manager your biggest joy is when you feel you have a real team performance and that was the case today. That’s why I’m happy.”

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