By Matty Sadler
April 19 2015
I'm never a fan of changing a winning team unless it is absolutely unavoidable. Taking out three of our back five, and putting in a goalkeeper who hasn't played since March, a right back who hadn't played since January and a left back who hadn't played since March, was a daft decision. It definitely effected us as our continuity was f*?ked. We were far too slow and sloppy in possession. Too many non-performers. But, even if Arsenal made hard work of it, we won and are through to the final.
Szczesny - 4. Kicking was awful and he should've done much, much better with Reading's goal. Can't see him getting his place back anytime soon.
Debuchy - 4. Rusty and out of sorts, understandably after 3 months out. Amazed he played 120 minutes.
Mertesacker - 6. Okay, went off injured.
Koscielny - 6. Okay.
Gibbs - 4. Did well for our first goal, otherwise rusty looking and sh*te. Needed to be tighter to McCleary for his goal though.(Can't cross the ball either. Ed)
Coquelin - 5. By his own high standards, not a good game.
Cazorla - 6. Anonymous and sloppy in the first half, stepped up after that and did well. Should've done more to stop the cross for Reading's goal though.
Ramsey - 6. Hardworking, lively and always involved, but often overplayed it or tried doing too much.
Ozil - 6. Best player on the park in the first half. Worldie pass by Alexis's first goal. Quieter after that.
Alexis - 7. Usual hardworking and energetic performance, but like many of our players he was guilty of occasional sloppyness. At the end of the day, he was our hero again.
Welbeck - 5. Eager to get in behind the high Reading back line, but had no service.
Subs:
Gabriel - 6. Initially looked nervous but settled well after that.
Giroud - 6. Showed why he is our focal point and the main man.
Walcott - 5. Not much of an impact