…Mikel Arteta wins his first major trophy for Arsenal as a coach and qualifies the Gunners for Europa League
Arsenal came from one goal behind as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in 28th and 67th minutes to beat their biggest London rivals, Chelsea 2 – 1 on Saturday to win their 14th FA Cup title at Wembley Stadium.
Christian Pulisic got the opener for Chelsea in 5th minute when started a build up at the midfield to find Mason Mount at the wide left. Mount crossed low to Olivier Giroud, who gently returned the ball to the master planner of the attack, Pulisic only had a touch at the penalty spot before flicking it wide over Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez.
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It was a breath-taking efforts as Arsenal pushed hard in the game and Ainsley Maitland-Niles gave a long pass to Aubameyang whose solo run into the Chelsea’s box committed Cezar Azpilicueta who had no option than to bring the The Gunners point-man down. The penalty was a spot-on and Aubameyang buried the ball in the right-hand corner sending Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Caballero the wrong way.
It was the decision of Hector Bellerin who shelled down in the midfield with a desperate run which resulted into collision with Andreas Christensen. It could have been a free kick to Arsenal, but the referee signaled play on. Nicolas Pepe came into the fort and slipped the loose ball left for Aubameyang, who took a touch, dropped a shoulder to slip past Kourt Zouma on the outside, and chilled over Willy Caballero in 67th minute.
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It was an entertaining, skill-displaying game of the London titans with high and low points as the narrative of the match. The moments of forced substitution as Christensen and Pedro replaced Azpilicueta and Pulisic respectively for expected injuries in the peak of the game. There were also a sequence of important decisions from the ref, Anthony Taylor: a red card for Mateo Kovacic, a likely foul on Andreas Christensen for Aubameyang’s match-winner and Emiliano Martinez maybe handling the ball outside the box.
The victory for Arsenal meant double as they have a slot to play in the Europe second-tier competition, Europa League next season. Frank Lampard’s Chelsea on the other hand would have to go to their drawing board and solidify their defence in they really want to be fantastic at the next campaign. With the arrivals of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner at the Bridge to blend with the existing crop of players, The Blues seem not to have worries in the midfield and attack.
