Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed a growing maturity among his players was crucial to their tense FA Cup semifinal win against Reading on Saturday, as he suggested they have developed a mental toughness that was lacking in recent years.
The Gunners were a long way short of their best as Alexis Sanchez's extra-time effort -- assisted by a dreadful error by Reading keeper Adam Federici -- was enough to beat a gallant Reading 2-1 as their defence of the FA Cup trophy they won last season progressed to the final hurdle of the competition.
Wenger admitted swiftly after the game that his side needed a large helping of good fortune to make it through to their second successive FA Cup final, yet he also argued they are now better equipped to cope with setbacks when the going gets tough.
"We have learned from our hiccups and we have matured a little bit," Wenger told reporters. "When we had difficult moments [against Reading] the team kept going. We don't feel sorry for ourselves. We just kept our game plan.
"We have to show that now on a consistent level and we have the opportunity to do that against Chelsea next Sunday. We were back against the wall and responded well. The team has great spirit and togetherness and that helps."
Wenger also provided an explanation for his somewhat surprising move to name Mathieu Debuchy in his starting lineup for the semifinal, even though the Frenchman had not played a competitive match since early January.
Debuchy looked short of full-match fitness as he struggled to make an impact in such a high-profile fixture after a lengthy spell in the treatment room, but Wenger stood by his decision to hand the defender a recall.
"Debuchy is a French international. He must be capable to play in a semifinal against Reading," was Wenger's unforgiving view of his defender's less-than-convincing display. "You wait, you wait, but at some stage you have to play a game. Hector Bellerin has played recently with some ankle problems. There is always risks."
For his part, Debuch was overjoyed at the chance to play again.
"I'm so happy because it's so important to be back on the pitch," Debuchy said.
"It was hard for me after my second surgery this year but now it's behind me and I'm so happy to play for Arsenal.
"It's been difficult for me. Two surgeries in the same season is difficult but now I'm okay and I want to play a lot.
"I want to help the team and I am focused on the end of the season.
"Am I 100 per cent? No, I need to work hard again but I hope to be ready and 100 per cent soon.
"I need to play some games. I hope to play for the rest of the season. I need to try again, again and again."
Aston Villa's success in beating Liverpool in Sunday's second FA Cup semifinal could see Tottenham fans thrust into the unfamiliar position of hoping for a Gunners win in next month's final at Wembley as they look to secure European football for next season.
A recent change of rules means Villa will not qualify for the Europa League if they lose to Arsenal in the final, even though the Gunners are likely to have qualified to play in next season's Champions League by then and would not take up the place in UEFA's second tier competition that is open to the FA Cup winners.
If Villa lose to Arsenal at Wembley, the side finishing seventh in the Premier League would claim the final Europa League spot up for grabs for English teams and would secure what many will view as a less-than-desirable prize of playing a qualifier for the competition in late July, just a few days after Spurs are due to play an MLS All-Star team in Denver.