Arsenal legends back keeper Federici after FA Cup howler

As goalkeeping howlers go, it was up there with Dan Lewis's blunder in the 1927 FA Cup Final. On that occasion it was Arsenal who looked on in horror as the ball squirmed through Lewis's grasp and over the line for the goal that gifted the cup to Cardiff City, the first and only time the famous has trophy has left England.

At Wembley on Saturday it was Arsenal who benefited from a gargantuan gaffe as Reading keeper Adam Federici fumbled an Alexis Sanchez shot deep into extra-time of a tense FA Cup semi-final. The Aussie, who had pulled off some outstanding saves in normal time – including one brilliant stop to deny Gabriel his first Arsenal goal – somehow allowed the ball to wriggle through his legs and over the line as he desperately tried to scoop it back.

Sanchez's strike, his second of the game, proved decisive as Arsenal booked their place in next month's final. For Federici the experience was excruciating as he left the pitch in tears, inconsolable despite the best efforts of his teammates and manager. "We'll rally round Feds, he's been great for us, and when there's our vote for Player of the Season over the whole year, he'll win," declared Reading boss Steve Clarke. There was a similar sentiment from Reading defender Chris Gunter, who said: "We win together, we lose together. Feds was brilliant today."

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One Reading fans' website has launched a #FlagsForFeds social media campaign, urging supporters to bring Australian flags to Wednesday's home clash against Birmingham to show Federici "how much he means to us".

Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman took to Twitter to offer support to Federici, saying: "Not bad performance but feel gutted for @federici32 some great saves that will be forgotten!!"

Seaman's former Arsenal teammate Ian Wright also sympathised with Federici, and even took some Arsenal fans to task for revelling in the goalkeeper's blunder with chants of 'Federici's a Gooner'.

By defeating Reading, Arsenal have progressed to a record 19th FA Cup Final, and if they beat Aston Villa (conquerors of Liverpool in Sunday's semi) on 31 May they'll move one ahead of Manchester United with 12 victories. But manager Arsene Wenger admitted the Championship side gave them one hell of a scare.

"In the end we were a bit lucky because their goalkeeper made a mistake. I understand he is distraught but he kept them in the game for long periods," said the Frenchman. Congratulating Reading for their commitment, which saw Gareth McCleary equalise early in the second-half, Wenger added: "They were ready to die on the pitch to get to this final."

But despite Reading's magnificent spirit all the talk after the game was of one goalkeeper. "Adam Federici will remember that for rest of his life and people will mention it to him for the rest of his life," mused Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer.

He's probably right, too. Bob John, a member of the Arsenal XI that lost to Cardiff on account of Dan James' mistake in the 1927 final, said years later: "Poor Dan. I don't think he was ever the same again."