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Thomas Vermaelen: FA Cup win can propel Arsenal to top-four finish
ARSENAL skipper Thomas Vermaelen believes the scrappy FA Cup semi-final win over Wigan can silence Arsene Wenger's doubters and boost the Gunners in their bid to reclaim fourth place from Everton.
It was a make or break game for Wenger, who has endured a nine-year drought without any silverware.
France Under-21 striker Yaya Sanogo wasted a hatful of chances to put Arsenal out of sight before Jordi Gomez handed Wigan the lead from the spot.
But Per Mertesacker headed the Londoners level before the game meandered to penalties, where goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski pulled off two saves to seal victory.
And Vermaelen hopes Saturday's nervy victory will ease pressure on both Arsenal and under-fire boss Wenger.
"There was a lot of talk about needing the result for a few different reasons, for the manager and showing we could fight and I think we did that," the Belgium centre-back said.
It will give us a boost for the rest of the season now, we can move forward with confidence
"It will give us a boost for the rest of the season now, we can move forward with confidence.
"I'm very happy that we'll go to the final, that's why you play these games of course.
"It was a long game with extra-time and penalties, it's never easy but it's a good win."
Hailing Poland stopper Fabianski's spot-kick heroics, Vermaelen admitted Arsenal had practised penalties in the previous week's preparations.
"We did have some practices but I wasn't down to take one," he said.
"Lukasz is an outstanding goalie, he works hard for it; he works so hard that he deserves this."