Three Things We Learnt From Arsenal’s FA Cup Win Over Chelsea
Just as it looked like a season with little hope for Arsenal, Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey’s goals were enough for them to get past Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
The Blues were dominated completely as Sanchez opened the scoring early and Victor Moses’ brain fade moment sent them down to 10-men. Antonio Conte missed a chance to win a brace in his first season at the Bridge but he will be proud of the way his side performed throughout the campaign.
Both teams put in a superb clash even for the neutrals as Arsenal managed to hold on to a slender lead late in the game. Here are three things we learnt from Arsenal’s 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea:
Arsenal: Kings of the FA Cup
The Gunners have now won the FA Cup a record 13 times and there are very few clubs who can even think about such an achievement. They have been in the finals 20 times, winning 6 cups in this century alone and there is no doubt that this is a title that belongs Arsenal. Manchester United won the previous edition but Arsenal have now won 3 of the last 4 FA Cups and were in comfort zone once again, in what was a crunch final at Wembley. Surely, they rule the competition.
#Wenger In
The French manager failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in his tenure at the Emirates and though an FA Cup title does not change that fact, it is hard to see him quit the club just after lifting a trophy. He is the longest-serving manager in the country and is almost irreplaceable. This victory may have all but assured his place at the club next season. No matter what, Wenger will stay.
Tough work starts here for Conte
The Italian mastermind did well to orchestrate a Premier League title charge with a well-drilled Chelsea side in his first season in England. It is not an easy achievement and Conte deserves all the credit for his season at the Bridge. However, it is only going to get tougher as teams around Chelsea are set to import truckloads of quality and one wrong move from Conte in the summer can send his side plummeting down. The holes in the squad were apparent in this loss and surely, it will not be easy for Conte to search for players who fit in perfectly.