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Welcome to my Arsenal blog for the 2015/16 season; here you can check out my thoughts on the current goings on at the club.
Latest News: Arsenal draw 3-3 with Liverpool, goals came from Ramsey and Giroud (x2) - match thoughts to come!

Sunday 18 May 2014

The wait is finally over!

Nine years of hurt are finally over! Arsenal's long wait for a trophy came to an end on Saturday evening as the Gunners defeated Hull 3-2 at Wembley after extra time to win the FA Cup. Goals from Cazorla, Koscielny and Ramsey sealed the win in a memorable game which saw us finally win a piece of silverware. It was a spirited, gutsy and brave performance as Arsenal came from 2-0 down to win the cup with just over ten minutes remaining. The line-up was probably the best Wenger could've played on the day as Fabianski continued in goal and Mertesacker and Cazorla returned after being rested against Norwich. Sagna meanwhile played what looks set to be his last game in an Arsenal shirt.
Arsenal's trophy drought finally came to an end as they won the FA Cup
The way we started gave me visions of Birmingham City all over again. Goals from Chester and Davies within eight minutes gave Hull City a two goal lead. The marking for the first goal was criminal as Huddlestone drove an effort which fell into the path of James Chester who managed to divert the ball home. Their second meanwhile saw Fabianski palm the ball straight to Curtis Davies who found the net from a tight angle.

A key thing about this squad is their determination and strength of character though, and that's what certainly helped us through in the end. On seventeen minutes Santi Cazorla helped us on our way and got us right back into the tie. The Spaniard who I thought was brilliant on the day scored an absolute peach of a free-kick. Our first one since 2012 as it happens.

After that goal it looked as though we were destined to do everything but score. Mesut Ozil failed to connect with a ball into the box from Podolski whilst Giroud and Cazorla were both denied penalties and Livermore also handled in the area. However, Laurent Koscielny managed to bundle the ball home from a corner to equalise with just under twenty mintues to go.

Who better to win the game than Arsenal's player of the season, Aaron Ramsey. In the second half of extra time Giroud back-heeled the ball into the path of the Welshman who fired home at the near post to win the FA Cup for the Gunners - cue wild celebrations from everyone in red!

It really was a fantastic moment and hopefully it'll lead to more success in the future. I'm so happy for this crop of players and they really have deserved it. I'm absolutely delighted for Wenger who we've stuck by and he has produced us with an FA Cup trophy after nine years of hurt. The joy on his face after the game was clear to see and it certainly was a moment to savour.

It's incredibly hard to put into words the emotion that was going through every Arsenal fans body when the final whistle went, but the scenes in Islington and outside Wembley pretty much summed it up!

So, we've ended 2013/14 with fourth place and a trophy. A pretty productive season and if you had offered me that after the opening day and before we signed Ozil, I would've bitten your hand off. Enjoy the World Cup and I'll see you guys when it all gets going again in a couple of months time.

The teams line-ups:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla(105), Ozil(105), Podolski(61), Giroud.
Subs: Szczesny, Vermaelen, Monreal, Flamini, Wilshere(105), Rosicky(105), Sanogo(61).

Hull City: McGregor, Elmohamady, Bruce(66), Chester, Davies, Rosenior(102), Livermore, Huddlestone, Meyler, Quinn(74), Fryatt. 
Subs: Harper, Figueroa, McShane(66), Koren, Boyd(102), Sagbo, Aluko(74).

My man of the match: Aaron Ramsey.

Referee: Lee Probert.

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