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Wenger - It was another test of nerves

Arsene Wenger says his players have come through “a test of nerves” after beating Reading after extra-time at Wembley on Saturday.

In a tense FA Cup semi-final, Alexis Sanchez’s brace proved decisive against resilient and committed Championship opponents.

The Arsenal manager was impressed by Steve Clarke’s side and is delighted to have reached the final of the competition for the seventh time.

"We were maybe lucky when Pogrebnyak went through at 1-1, but Koscielny had an outstanding game and saved us from that opportunity"

Arsene Wenger

“It’s fantastic,” the manager told Arsenal Player. “We have reached another final.

“We now want to put every effort in to win it, but we’re happy to be there and it’s another opportunity to share that with our fans and we want to keep the trophy and do everything we can do to it.

“It was a test of nerves because it was tense, it was difficult. We suffered a lot on the commitment front from the commitment of Reading and we needed a piece of luck.

“Overall we had a lot of possession but they were very organised and we struggled to find our goals.

“We didn’t panic when we went back to 1-1. We were maybe lucky when Pogrebnyak went through at 1-1, but Koscielny had an outstanding game and saved us from that opportunity.”

Wenger was pleased to see Mathieu Debuchy last the duration on his return to the team, but says it is too early to give a prognosis on Per Mertesacker’s ankle injury.

“He [Debuchy] came through, yes, but he had cramps after the normal game and in extra-time he just managed to do it because he’s mentally very resilient,” Wenger said. “Per got injured because he had an ankle problem. I don’t know how bad it is now.”

Alexis scores

Alexis scores

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