LONDON -- Arsenal avoided FA Cup embarrassment against second-tier club Wigan on Saturday, coming from behind against the holder and winning a penalty shootout to reach the final where the London club will be looking to end a nine-year trophy drought.
Fabio Coentrao Jersey . After extra time ended 1-1, Arsenals players scored all of their penalties and Lukasz Fabianski made two vital saves in a 4-2 shootout victory over Wigan in this meeting of the fifth-place teams in the Premier League and League Championship. Wigan went in front in regular time from the penalty spot at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker conceded the spot kick that Jordi Gomez converted but the German made amends by heading in the equalizer that sent the game into extra time. "In the first half we were a bit timid," Mertesacker said. "A lot of people questioned (our character) recently but how we came back today we proved a lot." A year after winning its first major trophy by beating Manchester City and then again in this years semifinals, Wigan couldnt produce another upset against a Premier League power -- much to Arsene Wengers relief. "It was important mentally," the Arsenal manger said. "If you imagine the consequences of going out tonight, it would have been quite worrying." With the second half of his 18-year reign defined by the lack of silverware, Wenger desperately needs to collect a first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup success when Arsenal returns to Wembley for the final. Arsenal will discover on Sunday whether it will face Premier League side Hull or third-tier club Sheffield United on May 17. It could be a bittersweet end to the season, though, with Arsenal at risk of missing out on the Champions League after 16 successive years. Just before kickoff at Wembley, Arsenal was dislodged from the fourth Champions League place by Everton, which beat Sunderland 1-0. What a slump it has been for Wengers side, having spent so much of the opening months of the season on top of the league. The failure to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window has come back to bite Wenger. How differently things could have turned out if he had brought in an additional striker. Instead, Wenger on Saturday was relying for goals on 21-year-old striker Yaya Sanogo, who was starting just his fourth game since joining on a free transfer before this season. Olivier Giroud was on the bench. Sanogos lack of cutting edge and pace in front of goal quickly became apparent. The Frenchman was denied by Scott Carson from close range after five minutes and again just before halftime when his unconvincing first touch to control the ball allowed the goalkeeper to thwart the attempt. If there was anything to reassure a dreary Arsenal side failing to produce the fluid football Wenger champions, it was Wigans inability to provide much attacking menace. So Arsenal gifted Wigan the opening to go in front. Mertesacker slid in with a lunge to cut out Callum McManamans run and the forward went to ground in the penalty area. After a delay while Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal received treatment elsewhere on the pitch, Gomez, a product of Barcelonas youth system, sent the spot kick beyond the reach of Lukasz Fabianski. The anger among Arsenal fans who have grown accustomed to failure was clear: Jeers greeted Wengers decision to bring Giroud on, not for Sanogo but Lukas Podolski in the 68th. The equalizer proved elusive. After Carsons save from Kieran Gibbs header sent the ball drifting toward the goal, Wigan defender Stephen Crainey scooped the ball off the line. Wigans goal was finally breached in the 82nd when it couldnt fully clear a corner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain raised the ball over the defence and Mertesacker headed in at the far post. It was a lucky escape for Arsenal, which was denied a winner in extra time when Oxlade-Chamberlain hit the crossbar but had better luck in the shootout. Fabianski saved Wigans first two penalties by Gary Caldwell and Jack Collison, while Arteta, Kim Kallstrom, Giroud and Cazorla all netted for the Gunners. "We are walking out of Wembley on paper as losers but in our own mind as winners," said Wigan manager Uwe Rosler, whose focus returns to gaining promotion back to the Premier League.
Tiago Mendes Portugal Jersey . He missed a few fairways, putted off a green and made a handful of bogeys.
Miguel Monteiro Jersey .com) - Four-time champion Novak Djokovic has been installed as the top seed at the Australian Open, which will begin Monday in Melbourne.ARLINGTON, Texas -- All-Star pitcher Yu Darvish checked out OK after being struck on the top of the head by a batted ball while throwing in the outfield during batting practice Tuesday. The Texas Rangers said Darvish was examined by team physician Dr. Keith Meister before Tuesday nights game against Houston, and that "everything appears to be OK." Darvish is expected to make his scheduled start Wednesday night in the series finale against the Astros. But the Rangers said Darvish would be re-evaluated before the game as a precaution. Responding on Twitter to an article about the incident, Darvish indicated that he was OK. He resumed throwing a few minutes after the incident, and didnt see Meister until after that. Darvish had just made a throw when he was struck by the batted ball. Clearly stunned, the Japanese ace dropped into a squat momentarily before getting up, wiping his brow and appearing to check his head with his fingers. He then put his cap back on and ffinished his throwing session off flat ground in right field with other pitchers.
Andre Almeida Portugal Jersey. Rangers left-hander Derek Holland was shagging balls in front of Darvish. The ball glanced off Hollands glove before hitting Darvish. "I heard it," Holland said. "I was supposed to be protecting him but I just couldnt get to the ball. It was too high. I didnt get high enough. Hes fine." Darvish, who joined Kenny Rogers as the only three-time All-Star pitchers for the Rangers, is 8-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 16 starts this season. His 134 strikeouts are fifth in the majors, but his 11 strikeouts per nine innings are the most. Wednesday is Darvishs last scheduled appearance before the All-Star break. Before his expected start last Thursday was pushed back a day because of weather concerns in Baltimore, the right-hander had been on track to start Sunday in the last game before the break. A pitcher who works Sunday cannot throw in the All-Star game.
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