Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1 (at Wembley Stadium)
So the finale of this years Emirates FA Cup competition took place at the end of May in Warm early evening sunshine in the capital and two of its clubs did battle as Arsenal and Chelsea contested for the Famous old trophy.
For Arsenal it was about trying to salvage something from a largely poor season which saw them miss out on a Champions League place for the first time in twenty odd years, whilst Chelsea were looking to complete a wonderful season by adding the FA Cup to their Premiership title and complete the double. The West London side understandably started favourites for this one but cup finals don't always follow the form book.
And it didn't take long for the games first big talking point to materialise as less than four minutes into the contest Arsenal took the lead amid a lot of confusion. It was hard to work out whether there were calls for offside or whether it came down to an alleged handball in the build-up. Either way, the goal was given. Aaron Ramsey was undoubtedly in an offside position when Alexis Sanchez worked the ball into the box but the Wales international made it quite clear that he was not active and Sanchez burst into the area and slotted home with a precise finish into the bottom corner. Chelsea were less than impressed.
The early goal saw Arsenal confidence grow and on the quarter hour mark Danny Welbeck raced on to an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain punt forward, and eventually the ball dropped to Sanchez. The Chilean had a go from distance and his thunderbolt of a strike dipped and clears the bar. Chelsea then broke forward but Arsenal's defence, which was certainly questioned before the match, snuffed out the danger from Diego Costa, blocking a good strike from 14 yards out.
A minute later however Arsenal should have increased their lead in what was a huge chance for Mesut Ozil. He came in on the right and side-footed the ball, almost scuffing it, on target before Gary Cahill made a goal-saving clearance with a flick. Chelsea though were looking all over the shop and three minutes later the Gunners passed up another opportunity when Ozil's corner came in, Welbeck's header hit the post and bounced on to the chest of Ramsey who knew nothing about it, and the ball hit the post AGAIN before rolling out. Unbelievable!!!
Just prior to the half hour mark Arsenal piled forward and Cahill had to come to the rescue again to deny Welbeck from close range. Welbeck should really have squared the ball to Ramsey but tried to score from a tight angle from just a few yards out and couldn't do so. It was very messy from Chelsea though. Messy, messy, messy, and they knew they would have to improve in the second half. Arsenal, although in front at the break, knew they could and should of further in front and hoped they wouldn't rue those missed chances.
Half Time Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0
Chelsea did indeed start the second half well and four minutes into it Pedro went for goal but Per Mertesacker stuck out a long limb to block it. Before today, Mertesacker had only played for 30-odd minutes this season. He's done really well for Arsenal so far. Then N'Golo Kante was set up by Costa and the wee man drilled a powerful effort into the hands of Gunners keeper David Ospina.
Two minutes later Costa tried to get on the end of a Eden Hazard ball, but once again Mertesacker stuck his body in the way and Costa got the last touch for an Arsenal goal-kick. Then Victor Moses was denied by the Gunners defence! This was a totally different Chelsea on the pitch now to what we had witnessed in the first forty five minutes.
Midway through the half a great stop from Thibaut Courtois, after a blistering Arsenal attack, thwarted a third goal for the North London outfit. Welbeck side-footed for Ozil, who's steamed through the middle, but the ball fell to Hector Bellerin and the full-back's low drive was saved. Two minutes later through came another big moment. Moses went down in the box under pressure from Oxlade-Chamberlain. A penalty or a dive? Dive, says referee Anthony Taylor! A second yellow card in thirteen minutes for Moses and Chelsea were down to ten men. Moses went down while in close proximity to Nacho Monreal. There did not seem to be much contact, but Moses hardly went flying down. Anyway Chelsea were now a man down as well as a goal down.
However they didn't seem to read the script as with fourteen minutes remaining Chelsea equalised through Costa. The Blues forward received a lovely ball from Willian, and he chested down in the box and his scuffed shot went past Ospina in the Arsenal goal. Rob Holding should have done better - as should Ospina, but the match was now all square.
However, just two minutes after Chelsea levelled, Arsenal restored their lead, when Ramsey headed home, completely unmarked, after Olivier Giroud's cut-back. Giroud had only been on the pitch a few minutes, after coming on for Welbeck, and Chelsea had it all to do once again.
Two minutes afterwards David Luiz got his massive hair on a short free-kick from Willian on the right, but he directed his header into the side netting. This was too close to call now and with five minutes left Bellerin charged past David Luiz on the right-hand side, leaving him for dust, but his final shot wasn't quite accurate enough, though, and went wide of the post.
There was no let up in the late action in this crazy match though and with four minutes left Costa struck the ball from close range straight into the chest of Arsenal keeper Ospina, who did so well to keep his composure and make himself big to deny the Chelsea forward. And with two minutes left Ozil has the chance to finish the game off a with a side-footer from inside the area but it came off the post.
And after a final few tense minutes referee Taylor ended a quite superb final and Arsenal had ended a rather average season with a record 13th FA Cup triumph and denied their West London rivals the chance of a double.
Full Time Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1
Here are some photos of the game, thanks to both clubs for those:-
Well, well, well, what a way to finish this seasons Emirates FA Cup competition. A terrific final in the Capital on a lovely late sunny May afternoon. Roll on early August when the 2017-18 tournament begins!!!
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