Arsenal beat Chelsea at Wembley with a great display and, to a man, everybody performed excellently.
Nobody gave us a chance.
I certainly didn’t give us much of one and spent most of the day not that bothered about the fact we were about to play in and FA Cup final. I’d made my peace with the fact we were probably going to lose. The small, stupid optimist that lives inside me wasn’t so sure, but he’s mostly been battered into submission this season.
Boy, did Arsenal prove us all wrong.
Putting in their best performance of the season, apart from the first time they played Chelsea, they owned the FA Cup final from start to finish.
The margin was tight but it shouldn’t have been.
Goalline clearances and the post kept Chelsea in it far longer than they deserved. In fact, we were playing so well you couldn’t help but fear something monumentally stupid would happen in the second half to rob us of a victory.
But it never came.
Here are the player ratings…
David Ospina 7
Made some brilliant saves and some absolute howlers, his complete showreel really. Not sure what he was doing for their goal, he looked like he tried to pat the ball away rather than, you know, actually trying to save it.
Rob Holding 8
Diego Costa tried to wind him up and Rob just looked at him as if he was something he’d stepped in, telling him he was a nutjob as he did.
His passing from the back is superb, nothing seems to ruffle him.
Per Mertesacker 9
Hasn’t started a game all season and was one of the standout players. His long legs were invaluable when it came to cutting the ball out. We worried when he started. We shouldn’t have. Was everywhere he needed to be exactly when he was needed.
Nacho Monreal 9
Sead Kolasinac is coming in and Athletic Bilbao want Nacho back. I really hope Arsenal don’t decide to let him go this summer. Committed, clever, willing, and focused.
Hector Bellerin 8
Getting back to his best and could have helped himself to a couple of assists or goals. Worked tirelessly like the rest of the team.
Granit Xhaka 8
Immense. Owned midfield, dictated the tempo, and gave Chelsea nothing.
Aaron Ramsey 8
FA Cup final? Need a winning goal? No problem if you have Aaron Ramsey in your side. Another massive game from the Welshman who looks reborn in this new system alongside Granit.
Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain 8
Arsenal are going to offer him a new deal next week. I really, really hope he signs it.
Alexis Sanchez 9 MOTM
It took just five minutes for Alexis to open the scoring and the decision, coming as it did after Anthony Taylor consulted with his linesman who had flagged, showed us just how much drama video replays would remove from the game – none.
I was surprised Taylor didn’t blow for handball but after he didn’t there could be no doubt that the goal should have been allowed.
Was this Alexis’ last game and goal for Arsenal? What an immense one it was if it is.
Mesut Ozil 9
Sporting a new set of highlights, Mesut had an effort cleared off the line, hit the post after making a mug of the Chelsea defender and generally strutted about Wembley liked he owned it.
Chelsea didn’t know what to do with him as he covered every blade of grass, tackled, pressed and generally made a real nuisance of himself.
Danny Welbeck 8
I’m convinced that Danny Welbeck is two-inches away from being world-class. Tireless, persistent and dogged, Welbz’s finishing and passing can sometimes just be a little ‘off’, like he’s not quite calibrated correctly. Considering the damage he already does, imagine if we could tune him…
Subs
Olivier Giroud 7
On the pitch for about two seconds he grabbed an assist with his first touch. In my preview, I said that Danny Welbeck would start so Oli could come off the bench to win it. Close enough.
Francis Coquelin 6
Got booked with his first touch when he kicked the ball away which wasn’t technically a touch because the game had stopped. Did a stepover.
Mohamed Elneny NA
Got himself in great positions despite only being on the pitch for around 1 minute.