The FA Cup final was far more one-sided than I expected.
The scrapping qualities that kept Aston Villa up were not enough at Wembley, where they couldn’t get near the ball or keep it when they occasionally got possession.
Their midfield four of Cleverley-Westwood-Delph-Grealish couldn’t get close enough to make a tackle. Those four barely participated in the final.
Santi Cazorla run ran the game, Ozil had space and time, Ramsey moved around and had shots. It was very easy for Arsenal to pass and move because they effectively playing eleven against six.
Remarkably, the first goal didn’t come for 40 minutes, when the fiery Sanchez expertly nodded down a cross for Walcott to smash home.
The “contest” was ended in 50 by an Alexis Sanchez thunderbolt that swerved past Shay Given for 2-0. Mertesacker headed in for 3-0 off his left shoulder.
Giroud didn’t start the semi-final either and has become a sub. He came on in 77 and and made it 4-0 in the 90 +4 minutes while Villa were waiting for a final whistle that would release them from further humiliation.
The Gooner pal who took me to the semi-final says that Aston Villa fans arrived early and were fantastic before the game, as the Reading supporters were. That semi was a massive day for Reading, who gave a better account of themselves than Villa did.
My pal says Shay Given was playing for penalties after 6 minutes and kept the ball for about 15 of the first 45.
An ANR reader emailed to point out that I was a late Agbonlahor penalty away from my 4-1prediction.
We went to Somerset for the weekend, so this wasn’t a normal Cup Final at home.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon four of us were at the seaside at Lyme Regis. We had coffee in The French Lieutenant’s Bistro and then went for a walk on the famous Cobb and then had crab baguettes and drove back to my brother’s house and got the team news.
Big shocks : Walcott and N’Zogbia started. N’Zogbia? Why? Agbonlahor was on the bench. Why? You need his experience!
Six months ago I promised ANR readers that I’d write one more decent piece and I’ve got an idea for it now. Hope to do that soon.
This week is Champions League Final week and Berlin is the big one for me, as I’ve made clear several times.
Didn’t record the Aston Villa Cup Final because I knew it would be a walkover.
Instead I recorded Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona, which I’ll watch tonight.