By Dan Ferguson
This morning I had a feeling that if all the players worked hard, we could take the game to Chelsea.
Chelsea like to make a game unfold, and they control how and when to execute their plan. They sure as hell don’t like teams to challenge for everything and force them into decisions that involve reluctant and often poor passing.
So from the first minute when Costa passed to Luiz, and he hit what looked like a 50-yard pointless ball to the corner, only for Pedro to know the outcome and take the first attack to Arsenal, I felt like we needed to nick it and not give it back.
Basically, Chelsea barely touched the ball again between closing Pedro’s cross in 30 seconds and the goal. For such a beginning to a final, it was amazing, tasty, odd and very enjoyable to watch.
But then it just got better and better. The players all took responsibility, we had a genuine talker on the field, everyone wanted to win the second balls and my god they were drilled in what could lazily be called tactics. It was more.
Per was incredible and no doubt we will read more about him in the days to come because what he managed for someone without a game under his belt was nothing short of bonkers.
Holding looks like everything John Stones wishes he could be. I think Holding is a future captain.
I’m not kidding. His ball skills, decision making and strength for his age are every bit as good as Terry. I just hope we don’t fuck him up by giving him a Stepanovs as an early birthday career-wrecking present.
Xhaka ran the show from midfield. Atoned for all his mistakes with his right by breaking up play and passing the ball on far better than Kante could manage today.
Ozil turned up and toyed with the tired and exposed Chelsea defence.
My god they were hungover, or Arsenal were just that fired up and focused that Chelsea couldn’t get to grips with what they needed to do.
Where was Hazard? Shame on him. The space was there and he was awful. As was Pedro.
Arsenal should have scored 5 by half time. Against the champions. And we looked like we had more in us.
It beggars so many questions about why now? Why so late? Will Wenger and Sanchez stay? (Yes and no).
But the main thing was that Sanchez wasn’t the key today. The others were and it showed.
Sanchez was digging Wenger out over Ozil losing the ball for the Chelsea goal on the touch line under no obvious pressure. Sanchez told Wenger to fuck off and gesticulated furiously at him. 30 seconds later Giroud produced a ball as good as his scorpion kick and Ramsey scored. Sorry Alexis, this didn’t need you.
It was an epic final of chances and we should have scored 6. Genuinely. It feels preposterous even writing it. But it is correct.
I’m proud of them and feel very mixed up after being such a critic of Wenger.
There is just so much to digest, and when Myles reflects on this he will be able to provide some balance to my euphoria.
But Arsene has won as many FA Cups as Chelsea and that is amazing.
I’m going to have a beer and give this some proper thought. But my main reaction is to give Holding a six figure weekly salary tomorrow.
Big win.