When your club reaches the Finals of the Cup they are defending champions of, you as a fan would usually acknowledge that with jubilation and joy. Yet, as Arsenal were victorious over Reading in today’s FA Cup Semi-Final there was overwhelming relief more than anything.

Alexis Sanchez gave the cup holders the lead in the 39rd minute and scored the winner through a disastrous fumble by goalkeeper Adam Federici in the second-half of extra time while Garath McCleary had helped his team draw level early in the second-half. The match would have been over in regulation time had the post and keeper Federici not come to Reading’s rescue towards the dying minutes of the second 45.

The Gunners' game lacked the usual fast tempo and Reading were pressing their opponents at every forseeable opportunity. If there was one telling difference on the pitch between the two teams, it was the clear difference of quality that each team possessed. Arsenal never gave you the feeling that they were in top gear but you could say they got the job done, eventually.

Federici was a hero for Reading throughout the game but it is his error that will be the talking point in all the papers tomorrow morning and for quite a long time as well. Reading had managed to frustrate the Arsenal attack time and time again but his fumble from a shot from Alexis that slipped through his hands and through his legs which rolled past the goal line would be a memory that he’d love to forget, but probably will not for quite some time. Reading historically have never made it past the Semi-Finals and it remained that way because of that crucial error.

Reading did not lose due to lack of effort. When it comes down to an individual error that costs a team their place in the finals of a tournament, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. But Arsenal, being the beneficiary of that error, will thankfully take that. Aaron Ramsey had earlier smacked his shot from a close range, albeit an acute angle, against the near post even though he had the whole open goal to aim at. Substitute centre-back Gabriel Paulista had his header from a corner saved brilliantly by the Reading keeper during the second-half. Right at the final whistle, substitute Olivier Giroud headed his chance straight into Federici’s open arms.

In his post-match interview, Arsène Wenger heaped praise on the Championship side for their defensive solidarity. Wojciech Szczesny celebrated his 25th birthday with Arsenal progressing through to the finals, but he had sympathy for his opposite number since he had "been there, done that" before. Reading’s manager Steve Clarke was proud of the performance and response his team gave in the second-half. Of Federici he said: "Federici is upset, he had made a mistake in a key game but he is a strong personality and has been magnificent for the club all season. Without his saves we would be in even more trouble at the bottom of the Championship."

One of the main positives from the game for Arsenal is the return of Mathieu Debuchy who played the whole two hours of the match. The Gunners now eagerly wait to see whether their opponents in the final would be Aston Villa or Liverpool; who go head-to-head in tomorrow's fixture.