ARSENAL 2, CHELSEA 1
Danny Welbeck, the only Mancunian in this season’s final, won his first Emirates FA Cup winners’ medal on the day his manager Arsene Wenger created history in the competition.
Wenger won the FA Cup for a record seventh time to gain the outright lead over George Ramsey who had six victories for Aston Villa.
While Wenger and Ramsay have 13 FA Cup wins between them, this was new ground for Welbeck whose savoured the moment after three injury-hit seasons at the Emirates.
Welbeck, preferred to Olivier Giroud up front, didn’t make his first appearance of the current campaign until January.
And in his three seasons with the Gunners following a £16million move from Manchester United, Welbeck had had only 46 starts, 23 further appearances as a substitute and scoring 17 goals.
Welbeck played his part as Arsenal caused an upset as they prevented Chelsea from completing the coveted league and cup double.
It was an upset given Chelsea’s terrific season and Arsenal’s indifferent form.
And even beforehand, the odds looked steeped against the Gunners as Chelsea were at full strength while Arsenal were depleted defensively.
Laurent Koscielny was suspended while Gabriel, Kieran Gibbs and Shkodran Mustafi were injured while David Ospina was preferred in goal to Petr Cech.
But the win was no fluke as Arsenal swept away Chelsea, especially in an opening period they dominated. The fear was the Gunners only had a one-goal lead given to them by Alexis Sanchez.
And they were realised when Diego Costa drew Chelsea level with 14 minutes left, a massive blow given how much they had been in control.
But Arsenal displayed a grit seldom seen this season as Aaron Ramsey scored the clinching goal three minutes after falling behind to spark joyous celebrations.
And the way the players celebrated with Wenger was a statement that they are firmly behind the manager.
Wenger spoke of his pride of winning the cup for a record seventh time admitting it hasn’t been an easy season.
He said: “There have been some difficult moments, but I have spent every minute of the season fully committed and refusing to give up.
“That is why today I am more proud than usual as it would have been easy to give up. And when you finish the job in a positive way, it is pleasing.
“Nobody gave us a chance, but we responded with attitude and class.”
Wenger added nobody epitomised the spirit more than German Per Mertesacker who made his first start in 13 months and was pressed into action due to a defensive injury crisis.
He continued: “Mertesacker is an example to any young boy and he has an unbelievable attitude.
“Every day when he was not selected, he worked even harder and today he got his reward.”
Wenger added that uncertainty about his future had not helped his players. And on his future he added it is up to the board to decide if he is the right man to take the club forward.
He added: “I am in a public job and accept criticism and people don’t agree with me and never had a word against journalists in my 20 years here.
“But once the game starts, fans should support the team. In some games there has been a hostile environment, and I will not accept that.”
Wenger added the team had been “outstanding” in the last two months of the season winning seven games out of eight.
He continued: “This team has moved forward and shown unity. And the way we play suits the players and gets the best individual qualities from them.
“This team has exceptional potential. If two of three of the right players are brought in, this team can go further.”
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte admitted his side didn’t start the game well, but thought the game rested on two key decisions.
He claimed there was a handball in the build up to Arsenal’s opening goal and Victor Moses’ sending off was also pivotal.
But he added the defeat cannot take the shine off a fine season in which they won the league with a small squad.
“It is a pity we didn’t win the final, but I am proud and we played a big part to get here,” he explained.
Arsenal kicked off on the front foot as Chelsea looked like they were still suffering a hangover from their Premier League title triumph.
And there was no surprise when the Gunners, playing with purpose and great energy, took a fourth minute lead.
Sanchez’s goal was initially ruled out by referee Anthony Taylor after his assistant flagged for offside.
However, after a lengthy discussion with his colleague, the goal was awarded and replays showed the Chilean was onside and culprit Aaron Ramsey was not interfering with play.
Arsenal almost doubled the lead after quarter of an hour when Mezut Ozil slotted the ball past keeper Thibaut Courtois only for Gary Cahill to save the day with a goalline clearance.
And they went even closer moments later when they struck the upright twice in the same move. Ozil’s corner was headed against the post by Welbeck and the loose ball rebounded off the chest of Aaron Ramsey, stood almost on the line, and back on to the same post.
Arsenal were rampant enjoying 72-per-cent possession in the opening 20 minutes which were totally one sided.
Chelsea’s goal continued to lead a charmed life when Welbeck weaved his way through on goal only for Courtois to block his effort and Cahill complete the clearance, again from on his own line.
Granit Xhaka then had a drive turned round the post by the overworked Courtois.
Chelsea’s first decent opening six minutes before the break saw Pedro blaze over from just inside the box, a moment that summed up their opening half.
The start to the second half saw Chelsea play with an urgency not displayed in the opening period.
N’Golo Kante and Moses both forced saves from Ospina and Pedro fired agonisingly wide as they suddenly began to look a threat.
Chelsea, in need of new attacking ideas, turned to Cesc Fabregas was replaced Nemanja Matic after an hour.
Arsenal had a rare sight at goal when Welbeck broke down the left and square a pass to overlapping right back Hector Bellerin whose fierce low shot was well kept out by Courtois.
Chelsea’s job became even tougher when Moses was sent off for picking up two yellow cards in the space of 14 minutes, the second for a blatant dive in an attempt to win a penalty as he challenged for possession with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Conte made his second change with 18 minutes left when Pedro made way for Willian.
But the 10 men, hardly in the game, equalised in the 76th minute when Wilian’s cross was chested down by Costa who held off Rob Holding before firing low past Ospina.
Wenger’s response was to bring on Olivier Giroud for Welbeck, and what an inspired change it proved as the Frenchman with his first touch drove to the byline and cut back a delightful cross for Ramsey to head home from eight hards.
Chelsea had a chance to make it 2-2 when David Luiz headed wide from a Willian free kick.
Bellerin, overlapping again, could have sealed victory but fired wide.
Chelsea would have drawn level when Costa brought a fine save from Ospina. The way team-mates congratulated him underlined its importance.
Conte threw on Michy Batshuayi with two minutes left, but it was too late to make an impact after he replaced Costa.
Arsenal ought to have added a third goal on the break when Ozil cut inside but saw his shot strike the base of the upright as they displayed great game management in the four minutes of added time to run down the clock for a thoroughly deserved victory.