아스날 2014/15 FA컵 우승
- Arsenal win a record 12th FA Cup
- Gunners retain trophy for second time
- Sanchez second Chilean to score in final
- First team to win by more than one since 2004
Arsenal became the most successful club in FA Cup history as they outclassed Aston Villa at Wembley to earn Arsene Wenger a record-equalling sixth triumph.
The Gunners retained the trophy they won against Hull City a year ago to put Wenger's total of wins alongside George Ramsay - who previously stood alone with the record for his victories with Villa between 1887 and 1920.
Arsenal's 12th final victory was never in doubt as they dominated with a magnificent display, the only surprise being that it took until five minutes before half-time for their control to be rewarded with Theo Walcott's goal.
Alexis Sanchez confirmed that superiority with one of the great FA Cup final goals shortly after the restart - a swerving, dipping 25-yard thunderbolt that flew high past startled Villa keeper Shay Given.
Villa were a shadow of the side that performed so impressively to beat Liverpool at Wembley in the semi-final, their flaws exposed ruthlessly as Per Mertesacker took advantage of an embarrassing lack of marking to head the third.
Substitute Olivier Giroud's fourth in the final moments only completed what was a harrowing day for Tim Sherwood's side, who had travelled to Wembley high on optimism and expectation after an impressive run to the final.
It was a day of triumph for Wenger, as he added another FA Cup to his three Premier League titles in a game that was a sharp contrast to the tension of last year's final, when the Gunners had to recover from two goals down.
And Wenger recorded a tactical victory over Villa counterpart Sherwood, with his decision to use the pace of Walcott to take on Villa's defence rather than the power of Giroud reaping rich rewards.
Sherwood's big selection call - to play Charles N'zogbia ahead of Gabriel Agbonlahor - never looked like working. By the time the latter was introduced, just after Arsenal had gone two up, the horse had bolted for a Villa team that simply never performed.
Arsenal's season can now be judged as a success, with the trophy adding to a third-placed finish in the Premier League that assured Champions League football again.
This was a day of unrelenting misery for Sherwood and his players - watched at Wembley by owner Randy Lerner, who was sitting next to Villa fan Prince William.
They will have to regard Premier League survival as their success this term, which was the main priority when the manager replaced Paul Lambert in February.
Villa ended the league season by being thrashed 6-1 at Southampton and losing at home to relegated Burnley and the ominous signs of those performances were flagged up once more as Arsenal's pace and mobility ran them ragged.
Goalkeeper Given showed great athleticism to save from Laurent Koscielny, and Kieran Richardson blocked crucially from Walcott as he looked certain to score.
Just as it looked as if Villa would somehow survive until half-time, Arsenal got the breakthrough they deserved, Walcott thumping a finish past Given at his near post after Sanchez headed down Nacho Monreal's cross.
Before Villa could regroup after half-time, Sanchez effectively settled the contest with a magical FA Cup final moment, sending a bullet finish high past Given with the keeper barely having time to react.
Villa, pretty much as they had looked from the first whistle, were shell-shocked and Mertesacker was allowed by Christian Benteke to rise unmarked and head in the third.
The formalities were completed with virtually the last kick of the game when Giroud turned in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross in front of a rapidly-emptying Villa end, with their supporters having had little more than a couple of half-hearted penalty appeals to sustain them.
Wenger took the applause of Arsenal's fans before the trophy was presented - the manager who has had so many doubters delivering his answer with another piece of silverware.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (5) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Arsenal
- 01 Szczesny
- 39 Bellerin
- 04 Mertesacker
- 06 Koscielny
- 18 Monreal
- 34 Coquelin
- 19 Cazorla
- 16 Ramsey
- 11 Özil (Wilshere - 77' )
- 17 Sánchez (Oxlade-Chamberlain - 90' )
- 14 Walcott (Giroud - 77' )
Substitutes
- 03 Gibbs
- 05 Gabriel
- 10 Wilshere
- 12 Giroud
- 13 Ospina
- 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 20 Flamini
Aston Villa
- 31 Given
- 21 Hutton Booked
- 05 Okore
- 04 Vlaar
- 18 Richardson (Bacuna - 68' )
- 08 Cleverley Booked
- 15 Westwood Booked (Sánchez - 71' )
- 16 Delph Booked
- 28 N'Zogbia (Agbonlahor - 53' Booked )
- 20 Benteke
- 40 Grealish
Substitutes
- 01 Guzan
- 02 Baker
- 07 Bacuna
- 09 Sinclair
- 11 Agbonlahor
- 12 Cole
- 24 Sánchez
Arsenal 'must target Premier League title' after FA Cup win
Arsenal forward Theo Walcott says the Gunners have to challenge for next season's Premier League title after they successfully retained the FA Cup.
Walcott, 26, scored the first goal as Arsenal comfortably defeated Aston Villa 4-0 in the final at Wembley.
But the Gunners came third in the Premier League, 12 points behind champions Chelsea, and have not won the league title since the 2003-04 season.
"The Premier League has to be the next target for us," said Walcott.
"That's two FA Cup wins now but this is one of the best squads we have had at Arsenal so we should be achieving more. We need to start well in the Premier League next year."
Walcott suffered a serious knee injury in January 2014 that saw him miss the 2014 FA Cup final, where Arsenal beat Hull City 3-2 at Wembley.
The England international only played two games in November before another injury kept him out for a further two months.
But he finished the season strongly with a hat-trick in Arsenal's last Premier League match, a 4-1 win against West Brom as Walcott was preferred to Olivier Giroud up front.
Glory, glory Arsenal |
|---|
Arsenal have now won the FA Cup 12 times, more than any other team. |
Walcott opened the scoring in the 40th minute at Wembley before further goals from Alexis Sanchez, Per Mertesacker and Giroud secured the victory.
"I missed all this last year and to be part of it this year is a dream come true," added Walcott.
"My family are here and I have worked so hard, as has everyone to do this. I want to thank the manager for picking me and having faith in me and hopefully I repaid him.
"I also want to thank the physios and everyone who has looked after me. This is for them."
'My hunger is great. I want to do well'
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has now guided the Gunners to two trophies in two seasons after eight campaigns without winning any silverware.
"We have shown that we are a real team and can deal with pressure," said Wenger. "I congratulate the players, the staff and the fans. We are so happy.
"I had a difficult week to pick the team. But when confidence and sprit is so good it helps. I am very proud. Our club is doing well and if I can personally do well then it's even better.
"I have two more years of my contract and my hunger is great."
Wenger has won the Premier League three times, with their last success coming with the 2003-04 side that remained unbeaten throughout their league season.
He added: "Of course I think we can push on. Why not? We have won the league in the past when we have had potential to do it and that's what we want to do again.
"That's what we want to show next season but you also don't know how good the other teams will be.
"It is about consistency at the top level and in the past we have won leagues when we have been consistent."
'We really wanted this one'
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is also adamant that his side can win the Premier League title in 2015-16.
"It's a great feeling," said Ramsey. "We really wanted this one. Winning back-to-back FA Cups is not an easy thing to do and we have done it.
"Now we can look forward to next season and kick on and give it a real go in the Premier League."
'If we keep this squad we have a good chance'
Striker Olivier Giroud scored Arsenal's fourth goal in injury-time after coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute.
He feels it is vital that the key players remain at the club.
"If we keep this squad, with one or two more players, we will have a good chance to challenge for the title," said Giroud. "The Premier League title is the target. Hopefully we will be there."
Arsenal's win in numbers |
|---|
12 - Arsenal moved one win ahead of Manchester United to become the club with the most FA Cup final victories. |
6 - Arsene Wenger is the first post-war manager to win the FA Cup six times. |
4 - The Gunners have joined Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham in retaining the FA Cup on multiple occasions. |
2 - Aston Villa mustered just two shots in the entire game and both were blocked. Arsenal had 16 shots. |
13 - This is only the 13th time that a team has scored four or more goals in an FA Cup final. |
2 - Alexis Sanchez is only the second Chilean to score in the FA Cup final. |
100 - Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla was the only player in the final to have 100 touches. |
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