LONDON — Arsenal won their first trophy since 2005 on Saturday as the Gunners lifted the FA Cup after a pulsating 3-2 win in the final against Hull City at Wembley.
This one will go down in history as an epic final saw Arsenal clinch their first pieces of silverware in nine years.
The Gunners trailed 2-0 after just eight minutes when Hull defenders David Chester and Curtis Davies put the Tigers’ fans in dreamland. However a stunning free kick from Santi Cazorla made it 2-1 in the 17th minute and Arsenal pressed for the equalizer for the rest of the game.
They finally drew level in the 71st minute as Laurent Koscielny hooked home from close range and Arsene Wenger’s men battered Hull with wave after wave of attack. Hull held on as the game went to extra time but just Arsenal went ahead for the first time in the match in the 109th minute through Aaron Ramsey who finished the game-winner with panache after Olivier Giroud’s sensational back heel.
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Arsenal have now won the FA Cup a record 11th time, as they now join Manchester United with the only other English club to have 11 FA Cups to their name. That nine year wait for a trophy at the Emirates Stadium is finally over.
It all started so different for Hull City after an incredible start to the FA Cup final at Wembley. After just three minutes Hull were ahead as a drilled corner from the right found Tom Huddlestone on the edge of the box and his goalbound effort was tucked home by Chester to send the Hull fans wild.
Soon after the amber and black contingent were enjoying more scenes of jubilation as they went 2-0 up thanks to Davies tucking the ball home after Alex Bruce’s header bounced off the past and Hull’s captain popped up at the back to score.
Wenger stood hands on hips and looked at the ground with disgust. The Gunners’ defense had imploded as Hull go off to a flyer with their physical approach proving too hot to handle. Arsenal were 2-0 down after eight minutes. It could have been 3-0 to Hull after 12 minutes as Alex Bruce saw his header cleared off the line by Kieran Gibbs. Arsenal’s nightmare start at Wembley looked to have cost them their best chance of silverware in nine years as the Gunners, and pretty much everyone else, underestimated Hull City.
Then the Spanish magician Cazorla stepped up and curled in a wonderful free kick after 16 minutes to make it 2-1 and put Arsenal right back in the match. A flurry of early goals has this FA Cup turning into an instant classic.
Arsenal came close to making it 2-2 soon after as Lukas Podolski crossed from the left and an onrushing Mesut Ozil got clear of his marker but completely missed the ball. The Gunners were well in the ascendancy midway through the first half as another chance fell to Ozil on the edge of the box but the German international scuffed his shot into the ground and Davies cleared off the line. The game settled down, finally, as half time approached. Hull’s back-five sat deep and sprayed the ball around while Arsenal tried to get things going in midfield with Aaron Ramsey and Ozil hungry to get on the ball and create. Some hefty challenges from in across the pitch with Hull manager Steve Bruce patrolling the touchline nervously before the interval.
Hull held onto their lead at the interval, as the Tigers were 45 minutes from winning their first FA Cup in the clubs 110 year history. The opening exchanges in the second half saw Huddlestone drive a rasping left-footed effort over the bar as Hull looked dangerous on the break and Arsenal controlled possession. The Gunners then had a huge penalty shout with 30 minutes left as a long ball into the box saw Olivier Giroud run clear but Huddlestone had one look after his left shoulder before hauling the Frenchman to the ground with his right arm. Referee Lee Probert didn’t point to the spot as Arsenal’s sea of fans behind the goal were incensed. Another two penalty incident then went against the Gunners soon after as Jake Livermore looked to have handled in the box and then Davies tripped Cazorla but Probert continued to wave away Arsenal’s protests.
Arsenal cranked up the heat as the second half wore and after 71 minutes it finally paid off. Bacary Sagna attacked a corner from the left and his header deflected into the path of Koscielny who hooked the ball home to make it 2-2 and set up an enthralling final 20 minutes.
The Gunners were rampant and Hull were hanging on for dear life. A driving run from substitute Yaya Sanogo saw the ball played back to Kieran Gibbs seven-yards out as the left back took his time… but blazed the ball over with a horrendous miss. In the 81st minute Alan McGregor made a terrific stop from Giroud as Arsenal’s striker slammed a left-footed volley towards the bottom corner. The London club kept pushing to win the match in regulation as just before stoppage time Giroud teed up Sanogo perfectly but the French youngster dragged his effort just wide.
Extra time was needed to decide where the FA Cup would be heading and just four minutes into the extra period Giroud rattled the crossbar with a powerful header that had beaten McGregor. Arsenal continued to push forward and Hull had no answer to the Gunners’ relentless pressure. Ramsey and Cazorla had multiple efforts from distance which didn’t threaten Hull’s goal as the Tigers saw out the first half of extra time. Arsenal introduced Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky’s off the bench for the final 15 minutes as the Gunners went for it.
In the 109th minute the Gunners finally went ahead as Sanogo made a nuisance of himself in the box and Giroud’s backheel found Ramsey to finish and win Arsenal their first trophy in nine years. Late on Hull striker Sone Aluko rounded Fabianski but sent his shot wide from a tight angle as Arsenal held on to clinch the FA Cup.
LINEUPS
Arsenal: Fabianski; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla (Rosicky, 105′), Ozil (Wilshere, 105′), Podolski (Sanogo, 61′), Giroud
Goals: Cazorla (17′), Koscielny (71′), Ramsey (109′)
Hull City: McGregor; Rosenior (Boyd, 102′), Bruce (McShane, 64′), Chester, Davies, Elmohamdy, Livermore, Huddlestone, Meyler, Quinn (Aluko, 75′), Fryatt
Goals: Chester (4′), Davies (8′)