Cup win a record
FA CUP FINAL: ARSENAL 2 CHELSEA 1
ARSENAL ended a season of frustration and uncertainty with FA Cup glory, denying 10-man Chelsea the double as beleaguered Arsene Wenger became the most successful manager in the competition’s history.
Having stumbled home fifth and missed out on Champions League qualification, criticism of the Gunners boss has reached unprecedented and unpalatable levels.
Wenger has continued undeterred and, ahead of talks about his future next week, oversaw a record seventh FA Cup triumph on Saturday, with Aaron Ramsey securing a memorable 2-1 win moments after Chelsea’s Diego Costa had cancelled out Alexis Sanchez’s controversial strike.
Victor Moses’ sending-off after taking a tumble added intrigue to a final that enthralled from the outset, when an offside call against Sanchez was rightly overruled – although his handball in the build-up was missed.
The first-half could have been so much worse for unusually disjointed Chelsea, with Gary Cahill having to clear Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck efforts off the line, while the latter saw a header come back off the post and Ramsey directed the rebound on to the woodwork.
Desperation soon crept into Chelsea’s improved second-half display and Moses took a tumble in the box searching for a penalty, only to be deservedly handed a second yellow card.
The Blues responded manfully as Costa somehow beat surprise selection David Ospina, yet Arsenal were not to be denied a record 13th FA Cup.
Ramsey, the match-winner in 2014 against Hull, ran through to head home as Antonio Conte’s men went close to a famous double.
A larger than usual security presence welcomed supporters at a time of heightened alert following Monday’s terror attack.
Armed police patrolled Wembley and all in attendance underwent rigorous searches.
Conte’s men were second best in an opening period that was just four minutes old when Sanchez charged down a clearance.
Assistant referee Gary Beswick quickly raised his flag for offside against Ramsey, but the midfielder left the ball for Sanchez to race through and smartly direct past Thibaut Courtois.
Confusion reigned for 40 seconds as referee Anthony Taylor went to speak to the linesman before awarding the goal -
Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, Nacho Monreal and Mohamed Elneny celebrate after beating Chelsea seemingly unaware of the Chilean’s handball in the build-up. Injustice and excitement fuelled a breathless first half, with Sanchez coming close from distance as Costa proved a nuisance.
Surprisingly, though, it was Arsenal attacking with more pace and intensity, with Ozil was put through and seeing a 15th-minute effort cleared off the line.
Soon Wenger’s men were threatening again as Welbeck rose to meet Ozil’s corner, beating Courtois with a header that came back off the goal frame – just as Ramsey’s follow-up did after attempting to bundle home the loose ball.
Costa was thwarted by captain Per Mertesacker, starting his first match in 392 days, and Ospina as Chelsea looked to level, but their defence was being too easily exposed. Cahill again cleared off t the line after Welbeck’s attempt squirmed through, before Granit Xhak ka’s half-volley was denied.
The Premier League champions’ u unexpectedly poor half was followed by a predictably strong second-half r response. N’Golo Kante’s deflected strike was followed by Mertesacker denying Costa and Moses forcing Ospin na into a save.
Pedro bent wide as from 20 yards but t the blue charge soon began to slow, w with Hector Bellerin seeing a drive saved before Moses went down in the b box under pressure from Alex OxladeChamberlain. Referee Taylor was unamused, giving Moses a second booking for diving.
But, like so many times this season, Chelsea showed impressive resilience. Costa, their biggest threat, took a volleyed effort that took a slight deflection off Mertesacker, but should not have beaten Ospina so easily.
The blue hordes’ wild celebrations were quickly halted, though.
Olivier Giroud, brought on just 38 seconds earlier, swung in a cross and Ramsey was allowed to burst through unmarked by Kante to power home a 79th-minute header.
It was an incredible response that Bellerin nearly added to after a stunning solo run and, having seen Ospina stop Costa grabbing his second, Ozil sent an effort off the base of the post.
Chelsea fans began to head for the exits when full-time was called on a memorable end to an otherwise forgettable Arsenal campaign.