Arsenal have won another domestic cup trophy, adding a 14th FA Cup to their impressive trophy gallery after a stunning 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Wembley Stadium to be crowned 2019/20 FA Cup champions.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat 10-man Chelsea and won the fourth FA Cup title in their last seven seasons.
The two London clubs found themselves in the usual must-win situation going into the game as neither team recorded a silverware during the season. More importantly, Arsenal banking on the victory to secure Europa League berth.
This was a repeat of the 2017 FA Cup Final at Wembley where Arsenal saw off Chelsea with the same scoreline and also the third final clash between the duo in the competition history following Arsenal triumph in 2002.
Chelsea final day starting 11 consisted of just as many regular first team players but were reduce to an average team after injury woes sent Christian Pulisic untimely to the locker room and also retired captain Caesar Azpilicueta to the stands before Mateo Kovacic was shown a red card by referee Anthony Taylor.
The fascinating contest began with a bite when Chelsea took the lead after five minutes of play time through Pulisic who then became the first American player to score in an FA Cup final, while it was Chelsea’s quickest goal in the final of the competition since Roberto Di Matteo in 1997 (first minute v Middlesbrough).
Mason Mount on the left sends the ball to Olivier Giroud who back-heeled a low pass through Arsenal defenders in the box while the American came through to apply the finishing touch.
Nicolas Pepe found the back of the net midway in first half with a wonderful strike into the top corner but was ruled out for an offside by VAR as Ainsley Maitland-Niles was spotted to be offside earlier in the goal build up.
It wasn’t long before Arsenal returned to level term. Aubameyang ran into Chelsea’s goal area and captain Cesar Azpilicueta who found himself outpaced caught him by his shoulder. A spot kick was awarded and the Gabonese striker sent penalty maestro Willy Caballero to another direction.
Aubameyang then set a record as player who has scored more goals, 69, in all competitions than any other Premier League player, one more than Mohamed Salah (68) and four more than Raheem Sterling (65) since making his debut for Arsenal in February 2018.
Arsenal took the lead in 67 minutes when Hector Bellerin made run into the Chelsea half to let on Pepe who cut from the right to send a pass across the box on the left for Aubameyang and after successfully beating a committed Kurt Zouma, he calmly lobbed the ball with his left foot over Willy Caballero to add his second of the game and 29th of the season.
A non-composed chelsea could not restore parity and Mikel Arteta’s men emerged champions at full time plus the victory secures European football at the Emirates Stadium next season as well as another Wembley appearance at the end of the month for the Community Shield on Saturday 29 August.
Coach Arteta also became Arsenal’s only FA Cup winner as player and captain. A record he set just after 28 games of managerial role at the club.
