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FA Cup final: Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey denies Hull City with late winner FA Cup final: Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey denies Hull City with late winner
(35 minutes later)
The FA Cup final is on a roll. This was another engrossing game and enthralling occasion, and if there was no fairy tale ending this time at least the less fancied side gave a good account of themselves. Arsenal's nine-year trophy drought is therefore ended while Hull's 110-year wait for silverware goes on, though you would never have guessed watching the final that there was such a disparity between the aspirations and achievements of the two sides. The FA Cup final is on a roll. This was another engrossing game and enthralling occasion, and if there was no fairytale ending this time at least the less fancied side gave a good account of themselves. Arsenal's nine-year trophy drought is therefore ended while Hull's 110-year wait for silverware goes on, though you would never have guessed that there was such a disparity between the aspirations and achievements of the two sides.
The game got off to the brightest possible start, with Hull taking the lead from virtually their first attack. Ahmed Elmohamady won a corner on the right, Stephen Quinn hit it long to pick out Tom Huddlestone loitering just outside the area for a volley that had obviously been practised in training, and though the execution was imperfect and the shot was missing the target, James Chester managed a backheel deflection on the way through to leave Lukasz Fabianski wrong-footed. The game got off to a wonderful start, with Hull taking the lead from virtually their first attack. Ahmed Elmohamady won a corner on the right, Stephen Quinn hit it long to pick out Tom Huddlestone loitering just outside the area for a volley that had obviously been practised in training, and though the execution was imperfect and the shot was missing the target, James Chester managed a backheel deflection on the way through to leave Lukasz Fabianski wrong-footed.
If that was encouraging for Steve Bruce's side, the Tigers were in dreamland five minutes later when Hull doubled their lead. This time Fabianski was not quite so blameless. He should have dealt better with a tame header from Alex Bruce from a Quinn cross than let it rebound from his left-hand upright, allowing Curtis Davies to joyfully snaffle the rebound. If that was encouraging for Steve Bruce's side, the Tigers were in dreamland five minutes later when they doubled their lead. This time Fabianski was not quite so blameless. He should have dealt better with a tame header from Alex Bruce from a Quinn cross than let it rebound from his left upright, allowing Curtis Davies to joyfully snaffle the rebound.
The reason so many Hull defenders were in forward positions was that they had just come up for a free-kick that Arsenal only managed to half-clear. As one of the major questions about Hull's ability to contest this final was whether they would score a goal at all, with Shane Long injured and Nikica Jelavic ineligible, scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes was an entirely unexpected boost whether the goals came from defenders or not.The reason so many Hull defenders were in forward positions was that they had just come up for a free-kick that Arsenal only managed to half-clear. As one of the major questions about Hull's ability to contest this final was whether they would score a goal at all, with Shane Long injured and Nikica Jelavic ineligible, scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes was an entirely unexpected boost whether the goals came from defenders or not.
The only nagging doubt at the back of Hull minds would have been whether the goals had come too early. They had caught Arsenal off guard, no question about that, and the Gunners had begun hesitantly, but Arsène Wenger's side did have recognised goalscorers and as long as they did not panic still had more than 80 minutes to play themselves back into the match. The only nagging doubt at the back of Hull minds would have been whether the goals had come too early. They had caught Arsenal off guard, no question about that, and the Gunners had begun hesitantly, but Arsène Wenger's side did have recognised goalscorers and as long as they did not panic they still had more than 80 minutes to play themselves back into the match.
Those fears began to take shape when Arsenal pulled a goal back before the mid-point of the first half, Santi Cazorla arrowing a shot direct from a free-kick into Allan McGregor's top-left corner after Alex Bruce had fouled him a couple of yards outside the area. Sumptuous as the strike was, there was not much bend or dip on the shot, and the goalkeeper had a clear enough sight of it to at least be able to reach the ball.Those fears began to take shape when Arsenal pulled a goal back before the mid-point of the first half, Santi Cazorla arrowing a shot direct from a free-kick into Allan McGregor's top-left corner after Alex Bruce had fouled him a couple of yards outside the area. Sumptuous as the strike was, there was not much bend or dip on the shot, and the goalkeeper had a clear enough sight of it to at least be able to reach the ball.
Arsenal were dominating the game by the end of the first half, rarely allowing Hull the opportunity to cross the halfway line, and could have been level had Aaron Ramsey been able to supply a finish when Mesut Özil rolled a ball invitingly across the Hull goal. Bruce had seen a header cleared off the line by Kieran Gibbs from a corner, but if Hull were only threatening from set-pieces and Arsenal were successfully pinning them in their own half, the upshot was that McGregor's goal was the one under most threat. When Matty Fryatt managed a rare breakaway just past the half hour, he looked up from an advanced position on the left and found precisely no one in the middle awaiting a cross or a pass.Huddlestone sent a shot over Fabianski's bar a couple of minutes later to raise an optimistic cheer from the Hull end, though it was from 30 yards out and Arsenal were comfortable with goal attempts from that sort of distance. Arsenal were dominating the game by the end of the first half, rarely allowing Hull the opportunity to cross the halfway line, and could have been level had Aaron Ramsey been able to supply a finish when Mesut Özil rolled a ball invitingly across the Hull goal.
Bruce had seen a header cleared off the line by Kieran Gibbs from a corner, but if Hull were only threatening from set-pieces and Arsenal were successfully pinning them in their own half, the upshot was that McGregor's goal was the one under most threat. When Matty Fryatt managed a rare breakaway just past the half-hour, he looked up from an advanced position on the left and found precisely no one in the middle awaiting a cross or a pass.Huddlestone sent a shot over Fabianski's bar a couple of minutes later to raise an optimistic cheer from the Hull end, though it was from 30 yards out and Arsenal were comfortable with goal attempts from that sort of distance.
By the interval the pattern of the game appeared set. Hull were going to have to find some set-pieces from somewhere, for they seemed to have few other attacking ideas, while Arsenal would continue with the patient probing in the hope they would eventually wear down their opponents' defence. That almost happened on the stroke of half-time only for Cazorla to waste a promising opening with a woeful pass to Olivier Giroud, moments after the less than determined French striker had himself created an opportunity that Elmohamady did well to get back and block on the line.By the interval the pattern of the game appeared set. Hull were going to have to find some set-pieces from somewhere, for they seemed to have few other attacking ideas, while Arsenal would continue with the patient probing in the hope they would eventually wear down their opponents' defence. That almost happened on the stroke of half-time only for Cazorla to waste a promising opening with a woeful pass to Olivier Giroud, moments after the less than determined French striker had himself created an opportunity that Elmohamady did well to get back and block on the line.
Özil pulled another inviting ball back across the Hull goal at the start of the second half but found Lukas Podolski unable to take advantage, before Huddlestone sent another harmless shot over Fabianski's bar merely as a more elegant way of timewasting than some of his teammates had already been managing. By the hour stage, with Arsenal coming no closer to a goal than a desperately hopeful tumble by Giroud in the hope of a penalty after the slightest of touches by Huddlestone, Wenger sent on Yaya Sanogo to prove his pre-match Tweet was not merely wishful thinking. Özil pulled another inviting ball back across the Hull goal at the start of the second half but found Lukas Podolski unable to take advantage, before Huddlestone sent another harmless shot over Fabianski's bar merely as a more elegant way of timewasting than some of his team-mates had already been managing.
With Laurent Koscielny putting a header wide from a corner, however, Arsenal needed a goal to make history and make José Mourinho reconsider his words. As the game entered its final 20 minutes, with the Hull goal far from under siege, Arsenal looked the team under pressure and hopes of a Tiger feat began to grow. So it was slightly cruel when Koscielny, of all people, equalised. It came not with a flash of brilliance from Özil or Ramsey but through a scruffy set-piece. Cazorla's corner was played back towards McGregor's goal by a couple of ricochets from Hull defenders, to allow Koscielny, standing in front of the goalkeeper, to turn and scuff the ball across the line. For the Arsenal fans at that end the goal was a thing of beauty. For the Hull support at the other end of the pitch the disappointment will only increase when they see on television that McGregor was correct in protesting that the corner should never have been awarded in the first place. By the hour stage, with Arsenal coming no closer to a goal than a desperately hopeful tumble by Giroud in the hope of a penalty after the slightest of touches by Huddlestone, Wenger sent on Yaya Sanogo to prove his pre-match tweet was not merely wishful thinking.
With Laurent Koscielny putting a header wide from a corner, however, Arsenal needed a goal to make history and make José Mourinho reconsider his words.
As the game entered its final 20 minutes, with the Hull goal far from under siege, Arsenal looked the team under pressure and hopes of a Tiger feat began to grow. So it was slightly cruel when Koscielny equalised. It came not with a flash of brilliance from Özil or Ramsey but through a scruffy set-piece. Cazorla's corner was played back towards McGregor's goal by a couple of ricochets from defenders, to allow Koscielny, standing in front of the goalkeeper, to turn and scuff the ball across the line.
For the Arsenal fans at that end the goal was a thing of beauty. For the Hull support at the other end the disappointment will only increase when they see on television that McGregor was correct in protesting that the corner should never have been awarded in the first place.
The momentum was back with Arsenal now, and Gibbs should have sealed victory from the six-yard line with 10 minutes left instead of controlling Sanogo's pass then producing one of the great Wembley misses. Hull were visibly wilting but Arsenal could not apply the coup de grace. McGregor needed to be at full stretch to keep out an effort from Giroud and Sanogo shot narrowly wide with the last chance of normal time, before five minutes of stoppage time passed without a serious attempt on either goal.The momentum was back with Arsenal now, and Gibbs should have sealed victory from the six-yard line with 10 minutes left instead of controlling Sanogo's pass then producing one of the great Wembley misses. Hull were visibly wilting but Arsenal could not apply the coup de grace. McGregor needed to be at full stretch to keep out an effort from Giroud and Sanogo shot narrowly wide with the last chance of normal time, before five minutes of stoppage time passed without a serious attempt on either goal.
Strictly speaking Wenger is no longer a specialist in failure, though his team still look a long way short of the Arsenal of old, and it is debatable whether being pushed all the way by Wigan in the semi and now Hull in the final amounts to the sort of success that can be crowed about.Strictly speaking Wenger is no longer a specialist in failure, though his team still look a long way short of the Arsenal of old, and it is debatable whether being pushed all the way by Wigan in the semi and now Hull in the final amounts to the sort of success that can be crowed about.
As Yaya Sanogo tweeted before the game, however, Arsenal have still managed to win more than Chelsea, even if it was the 19th minute of extra time before Aaron Ramsey finally put the Gunners in front, applying a snappy first time finish to Giroud's clever back-heel pass. As Sanogo tweeted before the game, however, Arsenal have still managed to win more than Chelsea, even if it was the 19th minute of extra time before Aaron Ramsey finally put the Gunners in front, applying a snappy first-time finish to Giroud's clever backheel pass.
Giroud had hit the bar from Ramsey's cross in the first period of extra time so Hull probably knew they had it coming. They had defended doggedly for much of the game and appeared to have given themselves at least a chance of a penalty shoot out, but had no answer to the fresh legs Wenger was able to introduce for the final 15 minutes of extra time. By astutely keeping back Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky until the breal in extra time, Wenger added some much needed energy and invention at exactly the right time and though the pair were not directly involved in the winning goal their arrival seemed to cause Hull's hopes to falter.Giroud had hit the bar from Ramsey's cross in the first period of extra time so Hull probably knew they had it coming. They had defended doggedly for much of the game and appeared to have given themselves at least a chance of a penalty shoot out, but had no answer to the fresh legs Wenger was able to introduce for the final 15 minutes of extra time. By astutely keeping back Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky until the breal in extra time, Wenger added some much needed energy and invention at exactly the right time and though the pair were not directly involved in the winning goal their arrival seemed to cause Hull's hopes to falter.
For all that penalties might still have been needed had not Arsenal survived a last-gasp scare when Fabianski came out of his area and failed to stop a run from Sone Aluka, whose goal attempt from a narrow angle only missed by inches. With the same player bringing a save from Fabianski right at the death the drama at the end was intense. For all that penalties might still have been needed had not Arsenal survived a last-gasp scare when Fabianski came out of his area and failed to stop a run from Sone Aluka, whose attempt from a narrow angle missed by inches. With the same player bringing a save from Fabianski right at the death the drama at the end was intense.