Wriggle, duck, roll, wriggle, Alexis Sanchez is up to his usual tricks to evade challenges in the area... finds space... shoots, corner. Here it comes... MERTESACKER... great save by Federici at his near post. He had to get down low to keep that header out on the line.

Arsenal are on their toes, Reading taking some jabs.

Danny Welbeck is in behind, chasing down a long clip from Kieran Gibbs... chance... good work by Adam Federici. The keeper is quick off the line, quicker than the rapid Welbeck and manages to palm the ball onto the striker, it deflects for a goal kick. A yard less zip on that ball and Welbeck was in.

Image source, AFP

Aaron Ramsey is down on the halfway line holding his eye. It looks like someone has caught him - Jonathan Obita - to be precise. He'll be OK, some of the magic spray, actually maybe not if it's his eye. We're rolling again...

Reading adopt a rugby union stance and box Arsenal into their own corner early on but Jamie Mackie fells Alexis Sanchez to end the pressure. A chance for Danny Welbeck to stretch his legs down the left flank, here he goes, sets Alexis Sanchez but his driven cross-field pass is only ever going for a goal kick.

Maybe even he is feeling the butterflies?

Former Arsenal & Reading defender Martin Keown
Match of the Day at Wembley

"Mentally the players have to have had the right preparation, they have to have the balance between a steely determination to go and win while expressing yourself. You don't want any regrets. Give a good account of yourselves.

"Arsenal will feel they can win it, bur Reading have nothing to lose today. They have to go and enjoy the occasion."

The whistle can barely be heard but off we go and Reading go direct to win a throw in deep in Arsenal territory. Settle down gents, ease your way in...

The coin toss done, both these sides will attack their own fans in the second half.

"Nobody outside Wearside could have expected us to lose to Sunderland in the semi-final at Hillsborough. They were nothing more than a middle-to-average sort of Second Division side." - Arsenal midfielder Peter Storey.

But they did, in 1973 on a muddy pie of a pitch in Sheffield. In the 42 years since, the Gunners have not lost a semi-final to a team outside the top flight.

Over to you Reading...

Alan Shearer
BBC Sport

"No team in the Premier League has conceded more goals form corners than Arsenal, they are very static. If they do it right today Reading they will cause problems. Another way is catch Arsenal on the counterattack, get at them quick. It will at least give Reading a chance."

The players stand in the tunnel. Arsenal in striped red and white tracksuits to the right of Reading players who are in their match shirts, no need for an over-layer for them. They stride, proudly out into the cauldron that is Wembley.

Both crests are laid in the centre of each half, the handshakes come. We have four teams left in the FA Cup, let the storytelling it is so famous for end briefly, time for business.

Final stretches, final discussions, inevitable nerves.

The Reading changing room will be a hub of emotion right now. This is a team with no win in over a month remember, so they could be forgiven for being slightly fearful. What is Steve Clarke saying?

Image source, ReadingFC

Across the tunnel is a room full of household names, packed with players in superb form. Be patient, play your game, don't get dragged into anything, what is Arsene Wenger saying?

Image source, Arsenal FC

Did you know: Next to the changing rooms in Wembley is a warm-up room. This has nets to protect the ceiling but is around the size of say three standard domestic garages. Players can get a little feel for the ball in there.

Former Reading striker Jason Roberts
Match of the Day at Wembley

"Reading will not be thinking about this as a day out, but as a chance to win against Arsenal. They were 4-0 up after 45 minutes in that League Cup game a few years back, and yes they went on to lose but it shows you can trouble them.

"Reading need to make this the kind of game that suits them. They can handle the occasion, and they believe they can give Arsenal a hard time today. It looks like I didn't get the 'grey suit memo' and will be supporting colours today but I am impartial."

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

Reading manager Steve Clarke: "We have to play the perfect game with no mistakes and find a way to score a goal. We have to find a way to be more creative. When we get into a good positions we need to produce moments of quality to score.

"We go into the game with a bit of freedom, the pressure is on Arsenal. Everyone expects Arsenal to go though."

Alan Shearer
BBC Sport

"This is a game that Arsenal need to win. They have been on a magnificent win in the Premier League, but before that they had been under pressure with voices against Arsene Wenger. Without a doubt they are strong favourites here and you have to fancy them."

Image source, Reuters

The players have disappeared back into the confides of Wembley, it's just the fans now, staring at one another at either end. One set full of expectancy, the others probably feeling some fear but with enough hope and defiance in the belly to think anything may be possible...

Image source, Getty Images

"I replaced Wojciech because he had a bad game," Arsene Wenger contritely said in his news conference this week.

Image source, Getty Images

He is right, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny's last league outing was against Southampton on 1 January and by golly he had a New Year's day to forget.

Since then, only FA Cup duty has kept him busy as David Ospina filled the void but as today is cup-tastic, Szczesny is in net.

"They know the rules. It is based on merit," added Wenger. "If you have a disastrous game you don't play in the next one. If Wojciech remained number one, Ospina would play on."

So Arsenal have a cup goalkeeper. Is anyone else still confused by the merits of changing your goalkeeper for cup games? Are the goals bigger in cup games? Does the ball travel faster?

Nabil Hassan
BBC Sport at Wembley

"Came over from Perth for the game," Kieron Campbell told BBC Sport.

"I'm Reading born and bred, but I've been over in Australia for 12 years now so I got hooked on Reading during the Elm Park days.

"Moved over for my girlfriend at the time and she is now my wife. She's not a huge football supporter. I listen to BBC Radio Berkshire every week to keep up with the games. My flight back in on Monday afternoon, this trip is purely for the FA Cup semi-final, I had no intention of doing it but I got carried away and I had a moment of realisation when I stopped over in Dubai and asked myself: 'why am I doing this?'. I'm not overly confident but hopefully it will be a great day. If we don't win I don't have to come back, if we do then I suspect I'll be back again."

We have just done the maths, a round trip from Perth to London comes in at a shade under 18,000 miles.

Image source, Getty Images

There is a sea of blue behind one of the goals at Wembley, it punctuates the red seating. Balloons, funny hats, the usual FA Cup paraphernalia can be seen as the warm-ups draw to a close. Coverage kicks off on BBC one in just one minute so turn the TV on and lap it up.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown
Football Focus

Image source, Getty Images

"Its bittersweet to lose in an FA Cup semi-final. For me I think of Giggs' goal, it was a tremendous goal and I was proud to be involved in that match but it hurts.

"Today the players need to conserve their energy, enjoy the occasion, turn up and go for it. I feel Reading have a real fighting chance today."

Apu: Already seen Arsenal fans complaining about "too many changes", but its not like Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs and Welbeck are bad players.

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