Arsenal 4 (Walcott 40′, Alexis 50′, Mertesacker 52′, Giroud 90′) – Aston Villa 0
Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference
Bheerhugz Cafe, Ikeja. The venue I chose to watch last season’s FA Cup final, this season’s Community Shield and yesterday’s FA Cup final. It’s turning out to be my new traditional venue for watching Arsenal cup finals. Why wouldn’t it be? When I was having a good time with the Mrs. and many of my close Arsenal buddies, drinking Orijin and having a blast.
With the game starting as late as 5.30pm, I arrived around 4.00pm with my woman and started drinking with my buddies and having me some good ol’ fun. We brought out our inner Arsene Wenger’s and started guessing the starting XI. So much was made about who was going to be in goal and who was going to lead the line and we got our answer by 5.30pm – Wojciech Szczesny and Theo Walcott.
Wembley looked so colorful and the fans were hopeful to get their money’s worth but after a fluffy of good saves that frustrated Arsenal, the Gunners finally broke the deadlock when Walcott used his left to blast a shot past Shay Given in goal. The relief in Bheerhugz Cafe was glaring for all to see with the fans jumping up and down like Kangaroos. As expected, some drinks were spilled on the ground but it’s one of those things that happen in such engagements.
At the start of the first half, Alexis Sanchez proved to us why he’s undoubtedly Arsenal’s Player of the season. An unstoppable volley from quite some distance that left Shay Given with no chance in Hell to make a save. While my friends were basking in the euphoria of seeing such a great goal, I had to do with the replay because I was busy taking selfies with my girlfriend and some other girls that I invited.
Then I concentrated on the game and watched Per Mertesacker use his shoulder to guide the ball into Given’s far post. If any random bloke was on that line, he would have cleared it with consummate ease but in all honesty, I didn’t care because I was seeing one of the rare things in life – Per Mertesacker scoring for Arsenal. That was his seventh goal in 167 appearances for the club. The cake had a very good icing when Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score an exact replica of the goal he scored Newcastle at the Emirates. An audacious side-footed flick that beat Given in his near post. There were some complains about offside but for a player that hadn’t scored in his last eight games, that was a welcome goal.
The ref blew his whistle and it was party time at Bheerhugz Cafe. Bodies were moving in different directions, more bottles of beer were consumed and of course, more pictures were taken.
Wenger was absolutely ecstatic in his press conference and he was proud of winning his sixth FA Cup which is actually half the amount of FA Cup titles the Gunners have won. Even the players gave their takes on what has been a great season with Hector Bellerin labeling it as an absolute dream and Francis Coquelin calling it a great feeling.
I’m elated that the feel-good feeling is back at North London with the Gunners retaining the FA Cup yet again. In 2002, Arsenal won the FA Cup, retained it in 2003 and when unbeaten to win the Premier League in 2004. Now they have won it in 2014, retained it in 2015, but I’m sure the fans wouldn’t mind them some deja vu. 😉
Sayonara.
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