Remembering the 2017 FA Cup Final

With Saturday being a repeat of the final 3 years ago, including the same ref officiating, I thought I would look back at the day we won our 13th FA Cup trophy.

The 2017 Season
Chelsea had won the Premier League title with 93 points, 18 ahead of Arsenal who finished 5th and missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years.
Alexis Sanchez was Arsenals top scorer, with 24. Diego Costa (20) and Eden Hazard (16) were leading the way for Chelsea.
Arsenal had actually won the first league meeting of the season rather comfortably - a 3-0 win with goals from Sanchez, Walcott and Ozil. It has been credited with being the spark that reignited Chelsea.
The reverse fixture was won 3-1 by Chelsea, Alonso, Hazard and former Arsenal star Fabregas for Chelsea while current Chelsea hitman Giroud score a consolation for Arsenal.
The cups runs were interesting. Arsenal had the fortune to face two non-league sides in Sutton United and Lincoln City in the 5th round and Quarter Finals, but a far tougher opponent in the semi finals in Manchester City. While Arsenal faced Lincoln, Chelsea has a slightly tougher match against Manchester United, before hammering Spurs in the semi-final.

Cup Final Line-ups
Arsenal went into the game with a defensive crisis. Shkodran Mustafi had a head injury, Gabriel was out with an ankle injury picked up in the last game of the season and Laurent Koscielny got himself suspended for picking up a silly red in the same game. Added to that, Arsene Wenger kept his promise to stick with his cup 'keeper - meaning Chelsea legend Petr Cech would not face his former club.
Per Mertesacker, with 37 minutes of first team action in the 16/17 season, came into the starting XI. Arsenal had been using a back 3, and Per was flanked by Rob Holding, who had only played 17 times himself, and Nacho Monreal. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was picked to play left wing back, with Hector Bellerin on the opposite flank. Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey were paired in midfield with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez supporting the striker. Like in 2015, Oliver Giroud found himself left out of the final, this time Danny Welbeck being preferred.
Chelsea were full strength.

The Final
The game started off in controversial circumstances. Just 4 minutes in and Alexis Sanchez charged down an attempted clearance. With his hands up in front of his face, the ball clearly struck his arm. Under current rules this would automatically lead to a goal being disallowed, but this was pre-VAR. The controversy didn't end there. The ricochet headed towards Aaron Ramsey, clearly offside. He made an initial move towards the ball, but Alexis waved him out of the way. Sanchez smashed the ball past the 'keeper as Chelsea defenders complained about both supposed offences. The goal looked like it would be ruled out, and Anthony Taylor consulted the linesman who had flagged. After a lenghty discussion, Taylor ruled Ramsey had not interfered with play and awarded the goal. Arsenal led 1-0.
With the champions shell shocked, Arsenal dominated the game. Mesut Ozil had one shot cleared off the line Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck both hit the post, while at the other hand Per Mertesacker was leading the defence with authority, while Rob Holding was winning the battle with hothead Diego Costa, although Ospina had to help out his team mate on occasion.

The game reached half time with Arsenal leading 1-0, but early in the second half Victor Moses made Ospina produce a good save. Moses had an eventful time, moments later he was booked as Welbeck embarrassed him with a bit of skill on the wing. As Chelseas desperation grew, Moses decided to try and fool the ref. Under no challenge from Chamberlain, the Nigerian international chucked himself to the floor in the box. Taylor had no hesitation in bringing out a second yellow for Moses, and Chelsea were down to ten men.
Despite the man advantage, or maybe because of it, Arsenal began to lose control of the game. With 15 minutes left Diego Costa was found in the box, he controlled with his chest and fired a shot towards goal. A deflection off Holding and questionable 'keeping from Ospina saw the ball spin into the back of the net.
Arsenal responded by replacing Welbeck with Giroud and within a minute it paid dividends. Recieving a through ball from Alexis, Giroud went to the touchline and cut the ball back. It seemed in hope more than anything, but Ramsey sprinted past Kante and headed the cross into the back of the net. Parity lasted less than 3 minutes. Just like 2014, Ramsey looked like he had won the Cup for Arsenal.
It wasn't over, and it took another good save from Ospina to deny Costa another equaliser, before Ozil missed a great chance to make it 3, becoming the third Arsenal player to hit the post. However, the final whistle went without further additions to the score and Arsenal had won the cup for the 13th time!

Alexis Sanchez won the official man of the match award, but for many Arsenal fans it was the performance of the BFG, Per Mertesacker, that will live long in the memory.


It proved to be Arsene Wengers final trophy in a wonderful career as Arsenal manager.

Can we get a repeat on Saturday? Here's hoping!!