ALEXIS SANCHEZ ensured Arsenal’s stormy season will end with an FA Cup final after securing a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in extra time at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

The striker struck in the 101st minute to secure an all-London May 27 final against Chelsea. Arsenal is chasing a third title in four seasons in the competition that has provided a comfort blanket for Arsene Wenger during a 13-year Premier League trophy drought.

But with Arsenal languishing in seventh place in the Premier League, and set to miss out on the Champions League, the heat remains on the manager whose contract expires at the end of the season. “People can question my decisions but not loyalty and commitment to this club,” Wenger said after goals from defender Nacho Monreal and Sanchez gave him a shot at a seventh FA Cup triumph next month.

But Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge of City will end without silverware, and he even faces a fight for a Champions League spot. That’s not what City was expecting when it hired the serial winner who had won titles in every campaign with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

(SD-Agencies)