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After being 2-0 down inside the opening 10 minutes, Arsenal showed plenty of commitment and character to come back and level the game at 2-2 in normal time, before snatching a late winner deep into extra time. Here are five talking points from the game.
#1 Arsenal finally end their trophy drought
The last time Arsenal won a trophy, an influential Frenchman was playing his last game for the club. The year was 2005, the trophy was the FA Cup and the player in question was Patrick Vieira. History repeated itself once again as another out-going Frenchman played his final game for the Gunners. Although Bacary Sagna isn’t nearly in the same class as Vieira, the full back has been an integral part of the Arsenal setup since his move to England.
The win over Hull means that Arsene Wenger finally has the monkey off his back, but the ride was anything but smooth. After going 2-0 down inside the opening 10 minutes, the odds were well and truly stacked against the Gunners. But, thanks to goals from Cazorla, Koscielny and Ramsey, the Gunners became the first club since Everton in 1966 to come back from 2-0 down to win the FA Cup. Having won the battle, the war now begins for Arsenal and Wenger as the expectations of the fans heighten next season.
#2 Frantic start to a fantastic Cup final
Some might have thought that the warmth of the day, the tension surrounding the FA Cup final would have made for a cagey start to the game. All of those assumptions were quashed aside Hull City started the game on the front foot and scored the opening goal within four minutes. Steven Quinn’s cleverly worked corner set up Huddlestone at the edge of the area. Although he shot wide, Chester was there, seven yards out to divert it into the net.
Four minutes later, another set piece and another goal for Hull. This time it was Curtis Davies, who scored last in the quarter final, who gave Hull a 2-0. And if it weren’t for Gibbs on the line, Alex Bruce would have made it 3-0 in 13 minutes. As it was, that clearance proved crucial as Cazorla walloped in a free kick four minutes later. The intensity never waned until half-time as both sides were clearly intent on scoring another goal. Although the game got a little less intense in extra-time, that was certainly understandable given the pace at which the game was played in normal time.
#3 Super-sub Sanogo gives Arsenal the impetus they needed
Up until the hour mark, Giroud was having a tough time up front, on his own. The introduction of Yaya Sanogo right on the hour mark for the ineffective Podolski certainly changed the game. Not only did the change provide Giroud with some much needed support up front, the pace and power of the 21-year-old Frenchman gave Arsenal the impetus going forward that they lacked until then.
Having poked fun at Mourinho on the eve of the clash, the Frenchman backed his words by playing a pivotal role in helping Arsenal clinch their first piece of silverware in nine years. Late into extra-time, the Frenchman almost scored, but his effort was tipped away by the goalkeeper. In the end, although he didn’t score, the Frenchman was certainly instrumental in helping Arsenal come from behind to win the FA Cup.
#4 Ramsey has the last laugh
Arsenal were flying high in the League, they were into the knockout stages of the Champions League and everything was going really well. But then, their most influential player of the season, Aaron Ramsey got injured in December and from then onwards Arsenal’s season hasn’t gone according to plan. Having returned from injury in the game against Norwich, Ramsey started the final and proved that persistence does indeed pay.
As the old adage goes, if at once you don’t succeed, try again. For much of the game, Ramsey seemed more interested in taking a pot shots from distance rather than passing it to a team-mate in space. What angered his team-mates even more was the fact that none of his shots seemed to even remotely trouble the Hull keeper. His long-drive in the first half of extra-time, which was nothing more than a daisy cutter was arguably his best effort of the game. But as the game drew closer towards the final whistle, a great back flick from Giroud gave Ramsey the opportunity to be a FA Cup final hero. Like he did for much of the evening, he took his chance and was rewarded with a goal that brought joy to the eyes of every Gunner across the globe.
#5 There is romance left in the FA Cup yet
Wigan’s win over Manchester City certainly proved that the romance of the FA Cup wasn’t lost completely. The Latics run to the semi-final this year, where they went out against Arsenal, certainly showed that the previous year was no fluke indeed. The likes of Portsmouth and Stoke City have over the past few years reached the finals, and this was Hull City’s first-ever FA Cup final.
All of which points to the fact that there is romance yet in football’s oldest cup competition. While it is true that “giant-killing” acts have become a rarity that is only because of the gulf in class between the top-flight and the lower divisions. Even then, as Sheffield Wednesday proved this year, if you are willing to risk it, then glory might be yours. And although Hull weren’t able to win it, they certainly gave the Gunners a big scare.
