Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal’s “great chemistry” as the secret to their shock 2-0 win over Manchester City as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired his club to a record 21st FA Cup final, reports AFP.
Gunners boss Arteta outwitted City manager Pep Guardiola with an astute counter-attacking scheme and Aubameyang struck in each half as Arsenal executed the plan to perfection.
Arsenal will face Chelsea or Manchester United, who meet in the other semi-final on Sunday, in the final at Wembley on August 1.
Arteta captained Arsenal to FA Cup triumph six years ago and, in his first season in charge of the north London club, the Spaniard has led them back to the final of a competition they last won in 2017.
“We have great chemistry, they really believe in what we are trying to do and you can sense that. They deserve it,” Arteta said.
“To beat the best you need to take your opportunities and when you have to defend you have to put everybody on the line. “I’m extremely happy and proud of our players, but it’s very sad we cannot enjoy this moment with our fans.”
Just days after beating Premier League champions Liverpool, Arsenal offered further evidence that Arteta could be the man to restore them to the glory days of the Arsene Wenger era.
Arsenal had lost their previous seven meetings with City, including a 3-0 drubbing in their first game after the coronavirus hiatus.
But, thanks to Arteta’s masterstroke, Arsenal handed Guardiola’s side a first Wembley defeat in their last 10 visits.
“We’ve had an incredible week to beat the best two teams in Europe. It doesn’t happen every day,” Arteta said. “I don’t care who plays, I can trust them. We made changes and everyone was ready.
“We had to suffer in many moments. We had to be really well organised and minimise the spaces.”
City, unbeaten in their previous 22 domestic cup ties, were well short of their best and Guardiola had no excuses.
