Arsenal beat Wigan to make FA Cup final so what?

Arsenal took a giant step toward finishing with a trophy this season after beating Wigan Athletic 4-2 on penalties in the English FA Cup on Saturday.

Per Martesacker levelled up for Arsenal minutes to full time to send the match into extra time, making up for his error that put the defending champions ahead through a penalty kick.

Arsenal were tagged favourites ahead of the match but the victory didn't come by easily as the Championship side kept Arsenal forward led by Yaya Sanogo at bay.

Wigan had not lost a match in about 12 matches before this ties and one can only say kudos to such a team for surging and aspiring to defend their title, but to end the journey here isn't totally a bad outing.

Winning the tie was very important for Arsenal as they are in the race of making up for a "messed" season having lost grip on the Barclays Premier League to deserving Liverpool who are steering carefully and cautiously for now at least.

In fact, if the Londoners had lost to Wigan, the credentials of Arsene Wenger not only have been dented but the entire team. Questions would have been raised especially on the quality of the team without a few members on injury. Simply put, it would have been embarrassing and disastrous.

Arsene Wenger needs start walking with his shoulders high, the players must begin to approach games with super confidence and not with fear of being shocked or dismantled as they did on Saturday, Arsenal fans across the globe are earnestly waiting for an end to the nine years title drought, and this seems like a real chance to have a feel of "champions" and save their faces.

Do you share Aaron Ramsey's view on his Facebook account in the photo below?

OPINION: This same Wigan shock Man City again

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Last year's FA Cup final was Wigan Athletic's first appearance at the finale while for Manchester City it was their 10th, right there and then at Wembley Stadium, a shocker for City and the trophy went to Wigan who also succumbed to relegation same season. The Cup however offered them an opportunity to play in the group stages of the Europa League in 2013/2014 season.

With City's whole recruitment, form and recent performance, one would conclude that it was a bad fixture for Wigan especially as City would carry the sore they (Wigan) left on them a year ago as cited above. In fact, one would predict that we will witness a semi final with at least three teams from the top flight league but unfortunately or fortunately it went the other way round.

It is often said that once beaten twice shy, but this wasn't the case on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium as Cup favourites City fell again to Wigan 1-2 in the same cup but at a different stage this time.

In fact, you may ask, what manner of team is this Wigan standing at the door to City's ''breakthrough''. Well fate i'll say. They also came determined and gave it all like they needed the game to survive even though they did not pass the ball around as they did last season under Roberto Martinez. 

Where does this leave City who snatched the Capital One cup from Sunderland about a week ago? For those hoping to see them finish with a treble this season, kindly reduce it to a double unless you haven't heard the news yet but if you are reading this piece, you must have been informed in the paragraph above.

Anyway, the game must go on with or without City. 

We saw Arsenal demolish Everton 4-1 on Saturday in the other fixture of the Quarter Final as they now face a determined Wigan side that saw off another Premier League team but even if Wigan crash at this point they have defended their title well. Note that this statement does not presuppose that the Londoners (Arsenal) will win.

In the other fixtures however, Charlton Athletic were displaced by Sheffield United and Hull City also saw off fellow Premier league side Sunderland. 

League One's Sheffield now take on Hull City in the second semi final fixture