Lucky Arsenal see glint of silver

Lucky Arsenal see glint of silver
Brave Wigan's Cup reign ends as Wenger and his nervy team seize chance to end barren run

WIGAN 1-1 ARSENAL (AET, ARSENAL WIN 4-2 ON PENALTIES) ROB DRAPER AT WEMBLEY: 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.

Santi Cazorla looked calm as he strode the 50 yards to the penalty spot. He seemed assured as he placed his spot-kick. And then he delivered, driving his effort past Scott Carson.

Only then, as the ball nestled in the net, did Arsenal finally look to be in control of this tie at Wembley Stadium.

They will participate in the FA Cup final here next month after all. Arsene Wenger will challenge for a trophy and, after nine years, that wait for silverware might be ended.

And yet, after what was at times an aimless and undisciplined performance in front of owner Stan Kroenke, it will be hard to interpret this season as a major step forward.

Eventually, playing 4-4-2 and launching long balls, they rescued the game. But it was hardly a glorious triumph in the spirit of Wenger’s past.

A major vote of thanks will have to go to Lukasz Fabianski, who saved the first two penalties in the shoot-out from Gary Caldwell and Jack Collison.

There was no way back from there for Wigan, not after Mikel Arteta, Kim Kallstrom and Olivier Giroud scored so comfortably. Not even the belated efforts of Jean Beausejour and James McArthur could make up the lost ground.

Yet for almost 20 minutes of this game Wenger had been staring into a football abyss. Arsenal have endured their share of humiliations this season and this grand, old manager has been exposed many times.

But losing to a Championship side in the competition that everyone concludes they are destined to win, having been tactically out-thought, would surely have proved the nadir not just of this season but arguably of Wenger’s  17-year reign.

‘It was important mentally we didn’t go out tonight,’ said Wenger at the end. ‘If you imagine the consequences of going out, it is quite worrying.’

Quite. For much of the match, that was Arsenal’s major preoccupation.

‘I couldn’t be prouder of my team today,’ said Wigan manager Uwe  Rosler. To fail at penalties was hardly Germanic but Rosler allowed himself a wry smile.

‘I was asked if we practised and I said, “No. I’m German. We don’t need to”. But we want to be back here in May for the play-offs — and then, I promise you, we will practise.’