Alexis Sanchez scored an extra-time winner as Arsenal came from behind to book their place in the FA Cup final after a resilient 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Wembley.

Pep Guardiola’s Citizens dominated for large periods at the home of English football but didn’t take the lead until the 62nd minute, when Sergio Aguero brilliantly dinked over Petr Cech to finish off a swift counter attack.

However, a dogged and resolute Gunners refused to be beaten, and equalised nine minutes later when Nacho Monreal volleyed home Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s deep cross, before talisman Sanchez netted what turned out to be the winner 11 minutes into extra time when City failed to clear a corner.

It means that Arsene Wenger’s side will contest for a 13th FA Cup crown against Premier League leaders Chelsea next month, and also means that Guardiola’s first season at City will end without any silverware.

The Citizens will be disappointed but will have to quickly their attentions to securing a top four finish in the Premier League – they currently sit fourth in the table with six games remaining – but for Arsenal they now have the chance to secure a third FA Cup title in four years, and for Wenger the chance arises to salvage a piece of silverware after a turbulent season at the Emirates.

Both managers named unchanged starting elevens at Wembley this afternoon, the first time Guardiola has done so at City in his 50th game in charge, and it was his men that made the better start when Kevin De Bruyne fired wide from the edge of the box after just three minutes.

And that was a sign of things to come in the first half as the majority of the game was played in Arsenal’s half, with David Silva’s header well saved by Petr Cech as City looked the more threatening.

Olivier Giroud headed straight at Claudio Bravo in a rare Gunners attack, although they did have the ball in the back of the net through defender Laurent Koscielny, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

It was then City’s turn to have a goal disallowed but this one was more contentious, with Leroy Sane’s cross from the by-line adjudged to have gone out of play by linesman Steve Child, before it was finished off by first Aguero and then Sterling, although replays suggest that it did indeed remain in play, and thus should have stood.

City may have been hard done by there, but they could probably count themselves a tad fortunate at the end of the half when Sanchez appeared to be clumsily bundled over by Jesus Navas, although referee Craig Pawson waved away the Gunners protests.

Wenger’s men gained a greater foothold on proceedings at the start of the second half to suggest that they had weathered the storm, with Granit Xhaka’s goalbound effort deflected wide and then Giroud brilliantly denied by Fernandinho when he was ready to shoot.

However, it was Guardiola’s men who took the lead after 62 minutes when Aaron Ramsey cheaply lost possession as Arsenal attacked down the right, allowing Yaya Toure to chip forward a wonderful ball towards Aguero.

The Argentine got the better of Monreal and although he had a heavy touch when bearing down on goal, he benefited from hesitant goalkeeping from Cech to dink the ball into the Gunners net for his 30th goal of the campaign.

Nonetheless, their lead didn’t last long as from, out of nothing, Arsenal levelled.

The magnificent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a constant menace down the Gunners right, crossed deep towards the back post, where fellow wing-back Monreal was arriving to volley home past the helpless Bravo, who was routed to the spot.

This didn’t deter City though, as Toure’s 25-yard strike was brilliantly tipped onto the post from Cech, and moments later Guardiola’s men hit the woodwork again, this time Fernandinho’s header crashed against the crossbar.

Substitute Danny Welbeck had a chance to seal it for Arsenal late on when he got the better of Nicolas Otamendi but fired wide, but it mattered little as 11 minutes into extra time, Arsenal’s main man Sanchez stepped up.

City failed to clear a Mesut Ozil free-kick and the ball eventually landed at the feet of Sanchez, who calmly struck home his 25th goal of the campaign to send the east half of Wembley into raptures.

Guardiola’s men tried to respond but Arsenal held firm to secure their place in the final, where they’ll face Antonio Conte’s Chelsea after they beat Tottenham 4-2 in the other semi-final on Saturday.

In what was a frantic semi-final, here are FIVE things we learned as Wenger’s Arsenal reached the FA Cup final…

Sanchez worth his weight in gold

Alexis Sanchez has been absolutely brilliant for Arsenal this season, but as the campaign goes on and the summer nears, it still remains far from certain whether he’ll be at the Emirates next season.

But today once again proved that the Gunners quite simply have to get a deal agreed with the Chile international over the coming months.

The 28-year-old was pretty anonymous in the first half as Wenger’s men struggled to get a foothold and get the ball up to the front players, but he grew into the game in the second period, before being in the right place at the right time to fire home the winner.

Big players score big goals in big games, and although Sanchez has arguably had better games this season for Arsenal, this goal was arguably his most important.

He is worth his weight in gold to Arsenal – it’s up to the club to tie him down to a new deal.

City final ball found wanting too often

For much of the game, City got into good areas both through the middle and out wide, but too often their decision-making and final ball let them down.

Leroy Sane, Jesus Navas, and Raheem Sterling have all got pace to burn and the latter two really caused problems down the right-hand-side, but there needs to be an end product to go with the pace and trickery.

And too often at Wembley the trio struggled to provide that killer cross or pass into the box, and when Sane did get a good ball in, which was tucked away by Sterling, he was adjudged to have crossed out of play.

Sterling and Navas had the measure of Nacho Monreal down the Arsenal left, but the only good ball that came from that vicinity was when Aguero floated a cross towards Silva, whose header was well saved by Cech.

Arsenal deserve credit for defending resolutely, City will be disappointed with the territory they had, and the few chances they produced from it.

They have to improve their final ball, otherwise they simply won’t beat teams and won’t get the results their play warrants.

Wenger’s back three works at Wembley

Much was made in build-up about whether Wenger would be bold and persevere with the back three which beat Middlesbrough on Monday night.

And he was vindicated in his decision as his backline of Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny, and Rob Holding produced a dogged and determined performance to keep a side that have scored 63 times in the Premier League this season to minimal opportunities.

For all of City’s territorial domination in the first hour, they created very few chances and didn’t force Petr Cech into making too many saves over the course of the afternoon.

Some of that was down to City’s poor decision-making, but much of it was down to the aforementioned trio cutting out crosses, making crucial interceptions at crucial times, and keeping a tight and organised line to thwart City.

All three deserve great credit for their performances, as does the manager, whose bold decision to try something unusual against a top team paid off at Wembley.

Another indication why Oxlade-Chamberlain must play more

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain said back in October that he may have to consider leaving Arsenal if he doesn’t play more regularly, and here we are in April still not 100% sure whether he’ll leave the Emirates.

However, in the last few weeks or so, the England star has been excellent in both the central midfield position and, in the last two games, as a wing-back. And it culminated in a stunning display at Wembley this afternoon.

The 23-year-old was full of energy and endeavour down the Arsenal right, be it in the attacking third or defensive third, but he showed genuine quality when it mattered most.

It was his cross in the first half which saw Giroud force Bravo into a routine save, while it was his set piece deliveries, notably the inswinging crosses, which saw Bravo fumble and Sanchez go down under a challenge from Navas.

And he got his reward late on when his excellent deep cross was perfect for the arriving Monreal, who volleyed past Bravo from close-range.

It was an all round fantastic display from Oxlade-Chamberlain, and another indication of why he should be in the team every week.

Aguero on the money once again

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero netted his 30th goal of the season at Wembley on Sunday, although wasn’t able to inspire his side to victory as Arsenal hit back.

However, on a personal note, the 28-year-old is well on his way to recording his best ever goal-scoring campaign at the club, and that’s not bad for a forward whose future at the Etihad Stadium was far from certain earlier in the campaign when he was dropped against Barcelona, and then saw Gabriel Jesus come in during January and make an immediate impact.

But it’s not just his goals which were impressive on Sunday though, his overall work-rate and desire off the ball was noticeable and very well received by the City supporters in the west end of Wembley.

His goal was outstanding, a brilliant dink over the hesitant Petr Cech after a swift counter-attack, and further evidence that he is one of the best forwards to grace English football.