Match report – Player ratings – By the numbers – Video

As I’ve mentioned before the 1979 FA Cup final is the first Arsenal game I can ever remember. Leaving aside the fact it means the cup has a special place in my footballing heart, it was that most Arsenal of performances. 2-0 up and cruising, then we let United back into it before Brady, Rix and Sunderland broke their hearts.

Which is to say that when we reach a final we tend not to do things the easy way. It’s just not in our DNA. So, the way we won yesterday’s final wasn’t just a huge joy, it was both unexpected and hugely convincing. The team decisions saw Wojciech Szczesny and Theo Walcott start, the rest of the line-up was as predicted, and from the start the game was played in Villa’s half.

We probably should have been ahead before we got the first goal. I think Ramsey hit the side netting, Koscielny had a header well saved, but we were camped in their side of the pitch and a goal was inevitable. When it came it was a cross from the left kept alive by a typically determined header back across from Alexis Sanchez and, as I was on the verge of wondering to myself if Walcott over Giroud was the right decision, Theo spanked it home with his left foot.

The timing of the goal to give us the lead going into the break was significant. I said to Goonerholic at half-time if we got a second in reasonable time, that would be that. There was no way Villa could come back. Still, I wasn’t expecting to see a strike of such immense quality. In a big game, a big game player stepped up. Alexis picked up the ball, stepped inside and unleashed a rocket which did that beautiful thing of hitting the underside of the crossbar before it went in. It’s right up there with the best FA Cup final goals of all time.

I hugged people, I did high fives with the kids sitting behind me, and I laughed at both the audacity and quality of the goal, and the lads in front of me who came back from their half-time ‘break’ in the 58th minute and wondered what they’d missed. Only the best goal you’ll ever see in a cup final you gobshites, hope that overpriced hot dog and pissy lager was worth it.

From then on there was just no way back for Villa – although saying ‘way back’ suggests they were even in the game in the first place. I’ve never seen a team less switched on in a cup final. One of my favourite moments of the match was Wojeciech Szczesny standing with the ball at his feet just outside our box with everyone crowded into midfield. And he stood there. And stood there. And kept standing there.

You could almost hear him think ‘Why would I kick it?’. Eventually, after about 20 or 30 seconds, a lone Villa player realised what was going on and ambled forward, but it showed just how completely and utterly inept they were. If Tim Sherwood complained afterwards about the mentality of his players, he needs to take a look at himself because he’s the one who sets them up to play like that.

Poor defending/marking allowed Per Mertesacker to nod home the third goal before we made changes. Wilshere and Giroud came on for Walcott and the sublime Mesut Ozil who looked less than thrilled about being taken off, and late on the Frenchman added some real sheen to the scoreline with a typically deft finish at the near post.

4-0 in a cup final, amazing stuff, and while you can say it was down to how poorly Villa played, that would be taking all the due credit away from our boys who played so well. In the post-match pub discussion there’s usually one or two who stand out, but to a man we were fantastic from the first whistle to the last. Here’s a quick test: pick an individual from yesterday’s team at random. He played very well. Now another one. He played very well too. Do this 11 times, add three subs in for fun, and you’ve got it.

There was no Arsenal-ing this one up. No making it unnecessarily difficult for ourselves. We refused to shoot ourselves in the foot. Instead, for a big game we turned up in a big way. As good as the individuals were, the collective performance outweighed that. Villa were an irritation, swatted aside so we could get on with the business of lifting the cup, and it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to be there to see it.

Afterwards, Arsene Wenger said:

It was a convincing one because we were at it from the first until the last minute. I never felt that the focus dropped or that the quality dropped. Overall it became comfortable in the end.

And, of course, our 12th FA Cup means we’ve won it more than anyone else, and Arsene Wenger has 6 of those 12 triumphs under his belt. A specialist in winning the FA Cup, you might say. He said:

I’m very proud of that because if it has not been done, it shows that it is not easy. All of us want to achieve things that are difficult. It’s great for the club as well because we’ve won it 12 times, more than any other club. Personally, I’ve played in seven finals and won six, so I am very proud of that.

I have yet to see the post-game celebrations in detail, obviously we saw what was going on in the stadium, but I’m looking forward to catching the manager’s reaction along with that of the players. I was quite busy hugging people when we won, and then whole pyrotechnic Wembley thing gets in the way a bit, but to win the trophy for the second year running is tremendous.

It means there’s tangible reward to this season. A lovely silver thing in our cabinet. A day out with fun people, a game of football that we completely and utterly bossed, brilliant goals, and we lift the cup. What more can you ask for?

Last season’s final was memorable for different reasons. The years without a trophy and the way it was eventually won, but I think I enjoyed yesterday more. It’s down to the sheer quality of the way we won it. If it was comfortable it was because we made it that way with the best cup final performance I’ve ever seen from an Arsenal team in all the years I’ve been supporting this club.

Like last night, when I had no truck with any discussion of anything other than the fact we won the cup (e.g – transfers, who might stay or go or who might be signed), today is a day to bask in the achievement of winning the trophy. There’s plenty of time for everything else throughout the summer, for now just enjoy what was a special day.

I’m sure I’m not alone in the *boilk* this morning, but it’s a good *boilk* – the best possible kind. I can’t stay around for the parade as I’m off to Edinburgh where Mrs Blogs and the Mugsmasher are running the marathon, but as always it’s been a pleasure to share this with Arsenal fans online and off. Thank you all for your support during this season, great to see some of you yesterday, now it’s time to bask a bit in the success.

WE WON THE CUP!

Till tomorrow.

ps – Ja Gunners Ja. Oh jaaaaaa.