LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Alexis Sanchez sent holders Arsenal back to the FA Cup final as the Chile winger benefitted from Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici’s howler to seal a 2-1 win at Wembley yesterday.

Arsene Wenger’s team struggled to impose themselves on their Championship opponents for much of a tense semi-final and were forced into extra-time after Garath McCleary struck in the second half to cancel out Sanchez’s opener.

The Gunners avoided the lottery of a penalty shoot-out thanks to a gift from Australian international Federici, who allowed Sanchez’s shot to slip agonisingly through his grasp in the first period of extra-time.

Arsenal’s competition-record 19th FA Cup final appearance will be against Liverpool or Aston Villa, who meet in the second semi-final on today.

Wenger had warned his players to heed the lesson of last season’s FA Cup semi-final victory, when they needed a penalty shoot-out to see off second-tier Wigan, but they clearly didn’t take his message on board.

A day that would end in abject misery for Federici had started promisingly as he got down at his near-post to keep out Per Mertesacker’s header.

The Royals have slumped to 19th in the second tier table and were playing in the semi-finals for the first time in 88 years.

Yet although Mesut Ozil went close with a curling free-kick, Arsenal, rendered impotent by Reading’s relentless pressing, were well short of the sparkling form they had showed in winning 16 of their previous 18 matches.

Wenger’s side eventually broke the deadlock in the 39th minute with a fine goal out of character with the rest of their rather tepid performance.

Ozil took possession 30 yards from goal and, sensing that only a speedy delivery would unhinge Reading’s massed defence, unfurled a perfect first-time pass towards Sanchez.

The Chilean still had plenty to do to make the most of his team-mate’s creativity, but he was more than equal to the task, nimbly controlling on his thigh and then cleverly side-stepping McCleary before slotting a low shot under Federici for his 21st goal of the season.