When Theo, playing through the middle for the second match in a row, found the back of the net in the 40th minute, leaping over a sprawling, desperate defender to blast home on a leaping half-volley, inevitability kicked in. This was going to be a romp. We didn’t have to wait long for the second goal. Or the third. Yes, we did have to wait until stoppage-time for the fourth, but by then the party was in full swing. That second goal came five minutes after half-time as Alexis collected the ball about 30 yards out. Özil ran past on the wing, dragging two defenders away with him. Someone forgot to remind the Villans that Alexis cuts to the right, which he did and unleashed as scorching shot that flew in, glancing under the crossbar in a manner reminiscent of Cazorla’s goal against Hull. For the third, because we always score from corners, Cazorla sent it in and Mertesacker lost Benteke to head it home. Not to be outdone, Giroud came on and, after Ox offered his customary I’m-in-the-box-and-got-fouled, routine, he collected the ball and found Giroud at the near-post. Game, set, and match.
For the second week in a row, we’ve seen a swash-buckling performance that led to four goals. Whether this “proves” that Theo can play through the middle on a regular basis is another question for another day. For now, exult in the fact that, after a trophy-drought that lasted almost a decade, we’ve now won three of them in 12 months. We even had a sniff of second place in a season in which we suffered so many early injuries that it seemed like we were performing a Monty Python-esque parody of an Arsenal season. The emergence of Coquelin might stand as the story of the season; all but forced into the starting lineup after injuries to Arteta, Flamini, and Wilshere, among others, le Coq blocked more attempts at penetration than anyone else, averaging 3.7 interceptions per game. Whether this proves that he is a long-term answer to our needs in defensive midfield is, again, another question for another time.
Set aside the questions and banish the doubts for now. We’ve gone to Wembley in the merry month of May, and we’ve won the world’s oldest footballing competition for a record twelfth time, so many times in fact that it seems they’ll be renaming the FA Cup itself after our own stadium. I’m only half-kidding. Corporate sponsors be damned, at least it’s no longer sponsored by an abomination of a beverage that dares to call itself ‘beer’—the liquid I wrung out of my jersey, a tepid, lukewarm swill consisting of my own sweat, that of other Gooners, beer (my own and that of other Gooners), and champagne—was (and always will be) far-more refreshing.
We’ve won the FA Cup. Congratulations, Southampton. You’ll go into Europa League play, and we owe you some gratitude for the services of Theo, Ox, and Chambers. We’ve booked an appearance in next season’s Community Shield against Chelsea, not to mention our own Champions League spot for the 18th consecutive season. Above all, though, we’ve won the FA Cup. Again. Savour it. A question more-pertinent than the previous two: can we go for three in a row?
this was a brilliant performance but let's not pretend that Villa offered much resistance. Hull were a tougher challenge last season. I'm not sold on Walcott as a striker or Coquelin as our CDM, yet. Let's hope that we see a summer where we add one if not two players who can vault us past the UCL knockout-stage and towards the top of the Prem. There will be time for that, I'm sure. We don't have to fret over a UCL qualifier to delay transfer deals, unlike previous seasons when we apparently had to qualify before splurging. For now, as you say, enjoy. We've won the cup. This competition is unlike any other, and I'm proud to win it!
The team that defeated AV yesterday, including those on the bench, is good enough to finish in the top 5 of the PL but not enough to win the league nor to get past one or two rounds of the CL. The starting XI can hold up well against most sides but the league is a long haul that requires draws when your team has an off day but victories over your most formidable and dreaded rivals. You also need back-up players who can come in when starters are tired or injured.Arsenal played a mid- or bottom-tier side that overachieved to get to the final. They played very well, in part, because the Villans offered no threat on defense or offense. A ruthless side would have scored 3 or 4 more goals. Now the task is to address the weaknesses of the squad, strengthen where needs exist and cut losses if necessary. We still need a first-class striker, we still need another midfielder, and another back (Monreal seems to be leaving), plus a top GK.We also have to be smart and not allow our rivals to outbid us for the best players and never ever let them buy players that might improve them at our expense. RvP was a blunder, but Cesc was inexcusable even if AW felt he already had good players at that position. Looking forward we know Jose is already looking for strikers and tweaking or bolstering elsewhere (how long can his brilliant back line go on?). MU will just go out and spend untold millions in an effort to move up. They will demonstrate that money may not buy everything, but it can get you closer. City may not be as profligate, but has no choice as to spending given their present squad. Meantime, Liverpool, Spurs, et al will spend as well. Thus, Arsenal cannot stand pat and, of course, cannot wait for bargain-basement deals come August. We know that agreements may already be in place and we can only hope that Arsene has made some, as well. Some of the rumors are pure nonsense. Some of the rumors may be wishful thinking. Some of the rumors are the work of agents and the media. However, some of the rumors make sense and, hopefully, might prove true. No matter what, we need to see 3 or 4 first-class and world-class arrivals by mid- and late-June or early July, at the latest so that they jell before October or November, after a few draws and losses and the PL slipping away. .