Arsenal win FA Cup to deny Chelsea the double

Arsenal salvaged some silverware from a traumatic season as they denied Chelsea the double with a 2-1 victory in an enthralling FA Cup final thanks to Aaron Ramsey’s late winner yesterday.

Chelsea had been hot favourites to put the icing on the cake of a remarkable debut season for manager Antonio Conte but were not at their clinical best as Arsenal lifted the cup for the third time in four seasons.

They have now captured it a record 13 times while boss Arsene Wenger, for whom this could still turn out to be a golden farewell after a 21-year reign in north London, is now the most successful manager in the Cups’ history with seven wins.

Chelsea made a woeful start and were behind after four minutes to Alexis Sanchez’s hugely controversial opener but when Diego Costa levelled in the 76th minute it seemed the fates were with the Blues despite playing with 10 men.

Conte’s side had to play the last 20 minutes a man down after Victor Moses was dismissed following a second yellow card awarded for diving.

They responded to that setback but Ramsey’s 79th minute header knocked the stuffing out of Chelsea.

Arsenal could have extended their lead when Mesut Ozil hit the post.

Wenger, who failed to finish in the top four in the Premier League for the first time since taking charge in 1996, celebrated with his players in front of the massed red ranks of Arsenal fans at the end.

‘‘We had an outstanding performance from the first minute onwards,’’ the out-of-contract 67-year-old, who said his future will become clearer next week, said.