Making History
| Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger goes to top of the class
ON OUR WAY: Theo Walcott celebrates scoring the first goal in Arsenal’s 4-0 victory over Aston Villa in the FA Cup final at Wembley yesterday ARSENAL retained the FA Cup in majestic style as their 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa in yesterday’s final made history for the Gunners and their manager, Arsene Wenger.
Wenger’s side swept Villa aside with a swashbuckling display — sparked by Theo Walcott’s first-half opener and illuminated by a sublime strike from Alexis Sanchez to double their lead after the interval.
Per Mertesacker and substitute Olivier Giroud also got on the scoresheet.
It was a historic day which saw Wenger become the first manager in the post-war period to win the competition six times, a tally matched by only George Ramsey, who won the last of his with Villa in 1920.
There was another significant slice of history for Arsenal as they lifted the famous old trophy for the 12th time, moving them ahead of Manchester United as the most successful club in
Walcott has been a bit-part player for most of the campaign, but Sanchez has established himself as a creative fulcrum since he arrived from Barcelona and he capped his debut season with a stunning effort in the 50th minute.
Seizing possession in a wide position 25 yards from goal, a typically deft drop of the shoulder send two Villa defenders the wrong way, buying time and space for Sanchez to unleash a superb, swerving shot that flashed over the flat-footed Given into the roof of the net.
Villa, so vibrant since Tim Sherwood took over late in the season, looked traumatised by Arsenal’s scintillating display.
Mertesacker compounded their misery in the 62nd minute when the Gunners defender guided a corner into the net via his shoulder before Giroud’s clever flicked finish in stoppagetime underlined the class divide between the teams. — AFP