— Chelsea opened the scoring, before Aubameyang’s double sealed the win for Arsenal.
—Arsenal are now record 14 time winners of the FA Cup
— Arsenal secure European place with FA Cup win
— SEE player ratings
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| Aubameyang’s double sealed the win for Arsenal. |
Chelsea began the match brightly and opened the scoring in the 6th minute.
Christian Pulisic ran with the ball from midfield, rolled it to Mason Mount who made a run into the area and squared the ball to former Arsenal man Olivier Giroud who flicked it back to Pulisic who pulled it from Kieran Tierney and put it past Emiliano Martinez.
Shades of last year’s Europa League final in Baku were showing when Chelsea had a rout over the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta’s words at the first water-break woke the players.
A long ball into the area had Aubameyang rushing to it before Cesar Azpilicueta brought down the forward.
Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. A few seconds after consulting the VAR, he was happy with his decision as the penalty was upheld.
Aubameyang stepped up and sent Willy Caballero the wrong way to pull the Gunners back into the tie.
Minutes later, Chelsea were called on to make their first substitute when Azpilicueta went down after a collision and had to be replaced by Andreas Christensen.
In the second half, Arsenal began well and dominated large parts of the game.
They would soon be rewarded when Aubameyang received a pass from Nicholas Pepe, turned Kurt Zouma inside out before chipping past Caballero to give Arsenal the lead.
Chelsea would then find themselves a man down when midfielder Matteo Kovacic was sent off for a second yellow.
Arsenal held onto the lead and earn the win that gave them their 14th FA Cup title.
Club Captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang scored the two vital goals that gave Arsenal the win
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| Arsenal teammates celebrate FA cup win |
Arsenal secure European place with FA Cup win
Following the FA Cup win, Arsenal, who finished eighth in the Premier League, go straight into the UEFA Europa League group stage for 2020/21.
As a result, Tottenham Hotpsur, who ended 2019/20 in sixth position, enter the competition in the second qualifying round, while seventh-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers miss out.
But Wolves could yet go one better and qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League group stage if they win the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League, and in the process make it eight Premier League clubs in Europe in 2020/21. They are currently in the Round of 16.
Player ratings
Arsenal: Martinez (7), Holding (7), Luiz (7), Tierney (6), Bellerin (7), Xhaka (7), Ceballos (8), Maitland-Niles (8), Pepe (7), Lacazette (7), Aubameyang (9).
Subs: Sokratis (n/a), Kolasinac (n/a), Nketiah (n/a).
Chelsea: Caballero (6), James (6), Azpilicueta (4), Zouma (5), Rudiger (5), Alonso (6), Jorginho (6), Kovacic (4), Mount (6), Giroud (5), Pulisic (7).
Subs: Christensen (5), Pedro (5), Barkley (5), Hudson-Odoi (5), Abraham (5).
Man of the Match: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Man of the Match - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalises from the penalty spot against Chelsea in the FA Cup final
Aubameyang has been crucial to Arsenal's development under Arteta and it was fitting the Gabon international's double sealed his first piece of silverware since taking charge.
Two goals in the semi-final were followed by two in the final as Aubameyang became the first Arsenal player since 1950 to score an FA Cup final brace.
After his exploits at Wembley, if clear that Arteta hopes of pushing on for greater prizes in the future hinges on the Gunners' ability to keep hold of the Gabon international.
What the managers said…...
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta says Saturday's FA Cup final victory over Chelsea was the proudest moment of his career.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta: "Big games require big moments from big players. Aubameyang delivered that in the semi-final, he's done it again in the final and that's why you ask about those players.
"Some people were questioning whether he could do it in big games, but he was a big part in delivering this trophy. We're so proud to have a player like him in our squad.
"I think [it's the proudest moment of my career]. I'm really proud of what we've achieved as I know the difficulties and everything we've been through.
"It's been so tough the last six months for a lot of things that have happened in our lives, but I had only one mission when I came here which was to make the players and the staff believe that we could do it."
Frank Lampard
Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard admitted his side were not good enough in Saturday's FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal as he bemoaned losing so many of his players to injury.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard: "We didn't play well enough. We didn't play great for us, but we did compete in the game and we had chances. When you give an opportunity like that to Aubameyang, he will finish you off."
"Aubameyang scores two goals - one being a penalty - and we were very clear with the players about the threat that Arsenal provide with long balls behind you. They play football as well, but they also have a threat of a long ball behind you, particularly in those channels.
"A frustrating part of today's game was that I showed that a lot to the players and we worked on it, but we allowed him in easily. He's a top-class player, and the second goal is the sort of speed and quality of a player at this level that wins games like these."
Opta stats:
Arsenal's FA Cup love affair continues
Arsenal have won the FA Cup for a record 14th time, while they've also become the first club to beat a specific opponent in as many as three finals in the competition.
Mikel Arteta has become the first person to both captain and manage Arsenal to victory in an FA Cup final.
Arsenal have won each of their last seven FA Cup final appearances since 2002 - no team has had a longer run of successive final triumphs in the competition.
Chelsea have lost three of their last 10 FA Cup final matches, with all three defeats coming against Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta is the first Arsenal manager to win a major trophy in their first season in charge of the club since George Graham in 1986-87.
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