Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Arsenal deny 10-man Chelsea double
Ramsey the hero
LONDON, May 27, (AFP): Aaron Ramsey scored a 79th-minute header to earn Arsenal a stunning 2-1 win over Double-chasing Chelsea on Saturday and deliver embattled manager Arsene Wenger a record seventh FA Cup.
Wenger has been barracked by his own fans and failed to secure Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years, but he ends the season by surpassing Aston Villa’s George Ramsey as the FA Cup’s greatest manager.
Alexis Sanchez’s early opener for Arsenal, allowed to stand despite an apparent handball, was cancelled out by Diego Costa, only for Ramsey to reply immediately with the second FA Cup-winning goal of his career.
Arsenal, plagued by defensive selection issues, claimed a third FA Cup win in four seasons and 13th in total, making them the outright most successful team in the competition’s history ahead of Manchester United.
Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, who had Victor Moses sent off after he received a second booking for diving, were thwarted in their attempt to complete a Premier League and FA Cup Double for the second time.
It meant no glorious farewell for Arsenal’s Rob Holding (left), jumps for a header with Chelsea’s Diego Costa during the English FA Cup final soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Wembley Stadium in London on May 27. (AP)
The absences of the suspended Laurent Koscielny, the injured Gabriel and the concussed Shkodran Mustafi brought club captain Per Mertesacker into Arsenal back three for his first start of the season.
But there were few signs of ring-rust as the former Germany defender produced three crucial last-ditch blocks to thwart Costa.
Chelsea stepped things up in the second half, with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina foiling Kante and Moses and Pedro curling narrowly wide, before Cesc Fabregas entered the fray in place of Nemanja Matic.
But Arsenal continued to threaten on the break, Hector Bellerin working Courtois with a firm, low shot, and in