The FA Cup has lost some of its reputation and prestige over the past few years as league football and for the bigger sides, European competition, took priority. But, this year’s competition has definitely been the most enthralling, dramatic and romantic in recent time.
A BBC documentary by Gary Lineker on this historic competition really highlighted that, a worthwhile watch for any football fan. This year, Worcester City and Blyth Spartans did their bit for the Non-League sides in producing famous upsets in the early rounds. Cambridge United hit the headlines after a night dedicated to football, in the city famous for its academic prowess, as Manchester United’s multi-millionaire superstars were held and taken to a replay. Sheffield United have become known as a specialist cup team after an FA Cup semi-final appearance last year, Capital One Cup semi-final this year and humiliating QPR in the 3rd Round, yet Nigel Clough still lost his job after play-off disappointment. Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough turned Premier League poachers as Stoke City and Swansea were dispatched by Rovers, 2011 winners Manchester City dumped out by Middlesbrough. But, Bradford City will be remembered as the stand-out giant-killers by recording one of the greatest upsets in the cup’s history with a staggering 4-2 humbling of Premier League champions Chelsea, from 2-0 down. Moments like ex-United man Danny Welbeck scoring the winner to beat his boyhood side as an Arsenal player at Old Trafford or Adam Federici’s horrific mistake in the semi-final for Reading show the scale of ecstasy to trauma cup competitions bring.
The destined date for Steven Gerrard’s farewell was put to shreds by Aston Villa as self-confessed ‘Gooner’ Tim Sherwood led his new Villa team meet holders Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday. Villa’s first final since 2000 and looking to become an eight-time winner, Arsenal looking to become only the 4th team to retain the FA Cup in the last century and win a record 12th FA Cup, could they do it?
The Build-Up
It had been building up all week and I still had to pinch myself in realisation I was going to an FA Cup Final. The competition I’d grown up in awe of since I started watching football, ironically the first final I watched was Arsenal’s penalty shoot-out win over Manchester United in 2005 in Cardiff. ‘The Steven Gerrard’ final in 2006 really cemented my love for the FA Cup after the best final in the modern era of the competition.
I love watching Arsenal play, but going to see them play at Wembley and hopefully become the most successful side in the history of the cup was a dream come true, it couldn’t come quickly enough.
I was heading down Saturday morning to Highbury to soak in the atmosphere of the Arsenal faithful hours before kick-off with my cousin, a fellow Arsenal fan.
I didn’t expect the noise, size and madness of the fans at the 12 Pins and The Blackstock. Footballs flying across the road, flags a loft and chants constant, it was only 1:30, but it was electric and only heightened my excitement for the short trip to Wembley Park. My cousin would be watching on a screen in a pub, I could only imagine what the fans would be like come kick-off. I met my Dad at Wembley as the fans poured in still a couple hours before the start and it seemed everywhere I went, the fans were loud, passionate and very much up for it, and some fans say the fans don’t love this cup. Walking down Wembley Way was surreal, ‘Arsenal vs Aston Villa’ it read on the board on the side of Wembley, it really was happening, the Yellow Wall and Claret Barricade entered England’s most famous ground.
The anticipation for the team announcements was building as 4:30 hit and only an hour till kick-off. The big debate was Theo Walcott. A hat-trick last weekend and a Villa team with a particularly slow back-line on a big pitch was almost perfect for him. Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere were in the mix around what was a self-picked team. Theo got the start, I was relieved and had respect for Wenger adapting to the situation and playing the best player for this game, Ramsey got the nod too which was pleasing after last year’s winner. The anthems of ‘Abide With Me’ and of course ‘God Save The Queen’ brought incredible scenes of scarfs up high, flags carried across and waved and fans singing, it was game on.
The Game
I was not as confident as other Arsenal fans as I was aware Villa are a good team on their day as they showed against Liverpool. In the early minutes it was evident Christian Benteke was the route as early high balls were constantly lofted too him, but as the game wore on, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertersacker handled him accomplishedly and superbly. Arsenal wrestled hold of the match and dominated proceedings but couldn’t get a goal. I was becoming a nervous wreck, frustrated and growing inpatient as Shay Given produced a world-class save from Koscielny whilst Walcott and Ramsey also missed good chances. If we couldn’t get the lead into half-time I feared Villa would grow and attack more in the second half. Enter Walcott. My Dad said he needed to get into the game, so he came to the left and immediately became more involved. Nacho Monreal overlapped him and crossed, Alexis Sanchez rose majestically to head back across and Walcott arrived with an excellent left volley and half of Wembley erupted. The noise as Walcott wheeled off to celebrate is something that will live long in my memory, a roar of relief, delight and happiness as Arsenal led the final more than deservedly too.
The second half was not going to be the same I believed as surely Villa had to offer more after a poor first half showing, but that was killed off in minutes. One of the best players in the country had a good record at Wembley and wasn’t about to let a cup final go by without stamping his authority. I saw Sanchez pick the ball up and immediately got up anticipating a possible chance. What he produced was a ferocious swerving drive right in my line of vision to make everyone in Wembley gobsmacked. One of the greatest goals to grace the FA Cup and Wembley, a quite outstanding goal, which set the tone for a master-class half from Arsenal and may have cleared any belief Villa players, fans and manager had of a comeback. By this time, the midfield was running the show as Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin were at their sparkling best. Ozil has faced many critics especially, but since his return from injury he’s looked a £42 million player, capped by a mesmerising performance at Wembley. The Villa players had frozen on the big stage and been overwhelmed by Arsenal’s big names as talents like Jack Grealish, Fabian Delph and even Christian Benteke went missing. A miserable day for Benteke summed up by appalling marking at a corner gifting Mertersacker another Wembley goal and the game for Arsenal.
I was now starting to celebrate, chants for ‘Rocky’ Rocastle and the celebration of the Invincibles rang around our side of Wembley as the game headed to its. Standing ovations for Sanchez, Ozil and Walcott well earned on day every Arsenal player played an 8/10 at least. Olivier Giroud rounded it off with a trademark near-post goal as it finished off a humiliation in the most one-sided final I’ve ever seen. The final whistle started raptures in the Arsenal end as they became the most successful team in the FA Cup, Arsene Wenger the most successful post war manager with six FA Cups. Watching Arsenal lift the trophy is by far the best moment as a football fan I’ve experienced, there is no better than seeing your side not just win, but win at Wembley to lift a trophy. An amazing experience that Arsenal fans and I will surely never forget on a day where Arsene Wenger more than put to bed any doubters of his and his team’s ability.
The Future
So, what next? For Aston Villa, it may have been a desperate day but ultimately Sherwood had guided them to safety, his goal when appointed. Quoted to after claiming many players have been told they are off in the summer signals a revamp of the club this summer, does that include Benteke. Obviously Villa would want to keep him but if a big offer comes in, you feel they must accept it and use it to start again and give Sherwood a chance to have his stamp on the Midlands club. He’s proven he’s a very good man-manager, he just needs the men in charge to trust him, Randy Lerner. Villa are much better than seasonal relegation battles. The days they used to challenge for European places seem a distant memory, they must start to get back to that level. They have the fan-base, which were exceptional at Wembley, they have talents like Grealish, Delph and Brad Guzan, but need strong additions as many players just aren’t good enough or simply past their best. It’s a big summer for Villa, one where relegation will be the outcome if they don’t use it correctly.
As for Arsenal, we’ve been here before. Back-to-back trophies is sign of progression, but not just that, the belief and performances have vastly improved for me from last season. Bar that nerve-shredding semi-final against Reading, Arsenal have been professional and round after round dispatched sides dominantly and exceptionally. The signings of Sanchez and Ozil in consecutive summers seems to of lifted belief and form of players around them as the club becomes a place to be rather than place to leave. So long now seem the years where names like Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Robin Van Persie and Samir Nasri couldn’t leave quicker, now talk is of who will come in?
In my opinion, Arsenal are three players short of going toe-to-toe with Chelsea and Manchester City. A top goalkeeper, defensive midfielder and striker will fill those vacancies. David Ospina has done a very good job in the second half of the season to eradicate the rash and careless errors of Woijiech Szczesny, although better quality and experience would be crucial in big games as David De Gea and Thibaurt Courtois have proven. Petr Cech is the name floating around and would be ideal as a keeper whose won it all at Chelsea and will provide leadership, quality and reliability behind an improving defence. The defence is growing in confidence and the growth of youngsters Hector Bellerin, Gabriel and Calum Chambers will add to the quality of Koscielny, Mertersacker and vastly improved Monreal. In midfield it’s clear where Arsenal’s season re-launched. The presence of Coquelin has been vital to Arsenal improving as a team and allowing players like Ramsey, Wilshere and Ozil to improve. One of my players of the season for the club just for his impact and consistent man of the match displays. Support in that position is now pivotal, Morgan Schneiderlin and Arturo Vidal are players which appear to be possible and would very much suit the role, also Geoffrey Kondogbia is a player I would look at. Up front, Giroud is often the scapegoat when things go pear shaped, but he has season after season delivered important goals and does a job for the team. He is desperate for help but Danny Welbeck and Walcott have had injury problems as well as Giroud himself. Who to get? Jackson Martinez is a realistic target which would provide quality up top, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Alex Lacazette are others, whether they’re available is another thing.
Arsenal are in the bets position since the Invincibles to challenge again with the quality and promise in the squad, add world-class in the spine and who knows, nex year’s parade could be for the Premier League. As for now, I’m still smiling away, because the famous Arsenal are going to Wembley, again.
Sam Tonks
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