Thursday, October 3, 2024

Report: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (inc. goals)

Result: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
Competition: FA Cup
Date: 1 August 2020
Venue: Wembley

Starting lineup: Martinez, Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Ceballos, Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Subs: Macey, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Torreira, Smith, Willock, Nelson, Saka, Nketiah 



Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a match-winning brace as Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 and claim the FA Cup. 

In an entertaining encounter at an empty Wembley, the Blues took an early lead through Christian Pulisic’s smart finish but the teams went into the break on level terms when Aubameyang tucked home a penalty which he’d won after being pulled down by Cesar Azpilicueta in the box. 

Our club captain then sealed his name in the history books with a delightful second on 67 minutes, dinking over Cabellero. 

Matteo Kovacic’s sending off helped our cause as we saw out the win to claim a 14th success in the world’s oldest cup competition. It also means we’ll play in the Europa League next season.

At the end of a long and traumatic season, what a way to sign off! 

Pre-game

There were no major surprises when the team sheets were released. As predicted, we lined up with a three-man backline utilising Kieran Tierney on the left side in the absence of Shkodran Mustafi. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, as was the case in semi-final versus Manchester City, took the Scot’s usual wing-back slot. Mikel Arteta went with experience over youth across the rest of the team with big-money trio Pepe, Lacazette and Aubameyang leading the line. Bernd Leno’s attempts to get fit in time for the final proved to be in vain. The German sat out the game meaning Matt Macey provided back up to Emi Martinez. The average age of our bench was under 23.

First half

To say the opening stages were open is an understatement. And some. Both teams were buzzing with energy. Maitland-Niles made the first dart forward, claiming a Tierney ball clipped up the line. He looked up, crossed to Auba who headed wide. 

Chelsea came straight back at us. With tricky midfielders like Mount, Pulisic and Kovacic they fancied their chances running at the defence. Mount stole the ball from Xhaka and went for goal. Martinez tipped around the post. We’d not even hit four minutes. 

Then disaster for the Gunners. With their next attack Pulisic clipped over Martinez to put the Blues in front. The American had started the move and then collected the ball inside the box from Giroud after good work by Mount. There was nothing our keeper could do. He followed in the footsteps of Jon Harkes, by becoming the second Yank to net in a major final against us. (1-0)

Chelsea took real heart from being ahead and dominated in midfield. Pulisic stung Martinez’s palms again not long after Pepe had tried his luck from long range at the other end. Ceballos, after winning a free-kick on the edge of the area, also went for goal but his free-kick flew over the bar. 

The drinks break seemed to come at a good time for us. Arteta barked his orders as he usually does and when the game we resumed we looked more settled. Almost immediately, Pepe curled a beauty into the top corner. The flag was already up though. Not for anything the Ivorian had done, Ainsley Maitland-Niles had received a ball in the build-up in an offside position. A real shame. Pepe allowed himself a wry smile. 

He didn’t have to wait long to celebrate. Long balls for Aubameyang to chase were a common theme of the first half and it was from this tactic that our captain escaped Azpilicueta to bound into the box. The Spaniard, fighting a losing battle, tugged him down. Anthony Taylor had no qualms pointing to the spot and flashed a yellow card. VAR checked where the infringement took place. It was in the box. Our captain stepped up and tucked home. (1-1)

Azpilicueta’s afternoon went from bad to worse inside four minutes. He went down clutching his hamstring and was replaced by Christensen. He was probably lucky to still be on the pitch after the penalty, so it was at least a bit funny seeing him walk off in tears. 

In the 15 minutes prior to the break, we really looked tight and disciplined. Our closing down was great, our tracking back likewise and we started to pass the ball from the back, dragging Chelsea up the pitch before moving into the space behind. It was encouraging. The only thing missing was a flourish in the box. Pepe found himself in decent positions on a number of occasions but we couldn’t get on the end of his crosses. 

The closest we came to a second was a Lacazette free-kick, won by Pepe, that flashed wide. Having gone behind, it was a decent showing from the men in red. 

Second half

The Blues were again quick out of the traps. Pulisic raced through on goal and curled just wide. In the process, he went down screaming, holding his hamstring. The physios carried him from the field. Given his talent that looked to be a good thing for the Gunners. Pedro replaced him.

Proceedings settled down for 15 minutes. Heavy legs at the end of a long season? The hot weather? Nerves? Whatever the reason, things got scrappy. Both sides traded niggly tackles in the middle of the park and were wasteful on the ball.

We did work one-half chance of note. Pepe breaking free down the right wing and feeding Lacazette. The Frenchman knew Aubameyang was inside him on the edge of the box but his pass was a bit behind his strike partner and his shot was closed down.

Chelsea flirted with taking charge. Mount, in particular, looked dangerous combining with Pedro. We seemed happy sitting back and soaking up the pressure, as we did against Man City in the semi-final. Could we work a chance on the break? The big question. Yes.

Ceballos directed a header to Bellerin in space and the right wing-back raced forward at pace forcing the Blues on the back foot. Christensen decided to take him out. The two players hit the turf but the loose ball fell to Pepe. The Ivorian cut across the box and played in Aubameyang. Would he go with his right foot? No. He turned Zouma, went back onto his left and dinked over Cabellero. What a finish. (2-1)

Into the last 20 minutes and our lives were made a bit easier. Kovacic, booked in the first half, clipped Xhaka’s heals. Referee Anthony Taylor took an absolute age to show a second yellow, in part because he chose to flash one at Ceballos first, but the Croat was shown his marching orders. You’ll remember he also sent off Victor Moses in the 2017 final. Send that man a Christmas card.

In a last throw of the dice, Lampard sent on Barkley, Hudson-Odoi and Abraham for Giroud, Mount and Rudiger. The clock showed 12 minutes remaining.

In the two minutes before Arteta put on Nketiah, Martinez had a Fabianski moment that raised the collective pulses of Gooners the world over. Racing out of his goal to claim a ball, he somehow claimed it on the line despite his body obviously being out of his box. It was close.

How to treat the final five minutes? Push Chelsea back or let them come at us. We initially pushed them back but then caution kicked in. We were happy to slow things down when necessary. David Luiz went down holding his right foot and the lesser spotted Sokratis was given a run out.

Arteta’s nerves on the touchline were palpable. He was screaming at everyone. Seven minutes of stoppage time went up. That didn’t help. Martinez got up to claim a corner and went down hurt. The clocked ticked down some more. And some more. And some more. There was another scare when Pepe tackled Pedro right on the edge of our box. Taylor waved play on when a foul might easily have been given. Another dart by the Spaniard ended with him again on the turf. He rolled back onto the pitch to receive treatment clutching his shoulder. It looked nasty, a possible dislocation and he needed oxygen as he was treated.

The clock was on 101 minutes by the time the game restarted. Still, the game went on. And then it was over. Finally. Wow. An incredible performance from the boys. They really left everything on the field. You couldn’t have asked for more.

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Adrian Drum

Thank you Anthony Taylor and Thank you Football God. After long time, luck was with us in any important match and Auba, please sign.

Martin

What luck did we have? I can’t see we needed the referee’s help at all. He got all his decisions correct

Public Elneny

It’s ok to admit we got a bit of luck, with the red card anyway

Anonymarse

And all the injuries

DaDude

His decisions were certainly not wrong and all acceptable. But one could argue that the second yellow was a bit soft. Had he given that against us, I might have been slightly angered. In the replay it seemed not so bad at all, so gladly the ref had no replay at his disposal. Also he could have decided that the foul which led to the penalty started outside the box. However, then he would have needed to send off the Chelsea defender, cause the protection against “double punishment” suggested by UEFA for a foul agfainst someone through on goal (no… Read more »

truj

When joking after some beers, you can call it the Anthony Cup. But our spirit was unquestionable. And beeing first with the nasty things, timewasting, things I hate in football but you have to do this… is a great achievement. Never a soft team anymore.

Thank you Arteta!

Maniac

The biggest signing we can make this summer is an Aubameyang contract extension. COYG!

Appearances

Now, did we get into Europa ahead of the Spuds? Are they playing qualifiers for the Europa?
Well, well, well!
Will Arteta take us somewhere?! Will KSE support Mikel?!
Am I swinging?!

AbsolutelyMarvellous

Spuds are still in it, unfortunately. Wolves finished 7th, so they’re the ones to miss out.

Anonymarse

Gives is a possibility to beat them in the final and really shit in their cornflakes

arsepedant

Spurms are playing qualifiers for the Europa League, entering at the second qualifying round. So they will have to visit places like Narnia and Hogwarts to get to the group stages, while we are on holiday.

The Kolkata Gooner

????

DaDude

And I hope we go to Narnia in the group stage after they have knocked Spurs out, heheheh. 🙂

Just for info, the statement is not totally correct, because the qualifiers start after the PL, so preparation of them and us will start at approx. the same time, but they will have potentially 3 knockout games during the first part of the Pl season to qualify.

Chamakhyungpark

And how in all of christendom did the commentator think Bellerin fouled Christianson in the lead to Auba’s second?

h2k

Well done boys, it has been a mad season, but you deserved the win today! So happy for Arteta!
Auba, please sign da ting!

SB Still

Come on gunners, awesome Arteta, Auba and the whole team. Even Pepe, put in some tackles.

Special shout out to Anthony Taylor, the other Mother Fucker ref, you know who, would have never given us the penalty or most of the yellow cards to Chelsea.

Aaron

We’ve got our Mike Dean ?
We’ve got our Mike Dean?
ANTHONY TAYLOR?
We’ve got our own fuckin’ Mike Dean?

Ksam

Ahahaha yes, finally some luck our way

gooner

And this commentator I bet Martin Taylor moaning about how they shouldn’t have given the final to an inexperienced ref because some cunt he was praising wouldn’t have sent off the Chelsea player, blah blah blah. We beat you and your awful commentary alongside them

goonshow

Tell me Luiz doesnt get a straight red if he’d put in that Azpi challenge on Auba///
Yes -Kov’s 2nd yellow was harsh, but Azpi, as last man, has to get red, once they decide it’s pen? Luiz has had 3 for exactly the same thing!

DaDude

They have outruled the double punishment for that, haven’t they?
So either it’s a penalty and yellow or it’s outside the box, then it’s a freekick and red. But I think UEFA has at least discouraged giving penalty and red together for fouling the last man, if not outruled it.
I think what the ref has decided here was completely correct.

Crash Fistfight

No, if you don’t make an attempt to win the ball (Azpilicueta pulled Auba back rather than making a tackle) you can still get sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, even if a penalty is awarded. That’s why Luiz has been sent off more than once.

Which is why I thought it should have been a red card.

Wilshere’s Middle Finger

@bloggs, can we get a double like button on here?

Marco

So glad you have many thumbs up for your comment.Tyler and all his dreadful cliches game after game Sky should bin him plenty of other commentators around to take his place.

Johnny 4 Hats

Instant silverware for Arteta, Pepe and Tierney.

And you want to know if there’s still a pull to come to Arsenal?

COYFG!!!!!!!

Happy FA Cup day to one and all you bunch of legends!!!

Forest gooner

And to ceballos and luiz as well as Martinelli.

David Dein

When Luiz joined on deadline day he said “my goal is to win things with Arsenal.”

DaDude

And he did. Well, if he stayed at Chelsea, I guess Frankie would have quoted the great French philosopher Arsene W:
“4th place is like a trophy.”

Redsy

Yellow ribbons for everyone !
Great game well done boys

Mick Malthouse

We are Arsenal!

C.B.

Yessss

C.B.

14th win with 2 goals by number 14!!!

A tetra

#14 Always Forward!

This win means so much!

Ordnance Dave

Emi tearing up at the end and me going. WE LOVE YOU ARSENAL WE DO!

Dave

WE DID IT BOYS!!! FA CUP IS OURS!!! GRATZ AND COYG!!

When they’re going to rename it as Arsenal FA CUP?

Elliott

It is already Emirates Cup our main sponsorship anyway

Adrian Drum

Love that 14 Shirt part.

Mentalista

Auba looked really confused when he saw it. Maybe he didn’t know exactly it was the 14th title. So good.

DaDude

Maybe he thought his contract automatically renews in case we win a trophy, lol.

TOGooner

BARAK AUBAMA!!!

Homer

I don’t know what that means.
But I LIKE IT!

TOGooner

WITH AUBA, YES WE CAN!

Petit's Handbag

I’m liking everything hahaha come in your fucking beautiful Gunners. We have history, we are part of English football history. You are not you pieces of oil. Fuck off! Come on Arsenal

Bergkamp loves it

Haha. I want to both down and up vote this. So stupid it made me laugh

Brent Morgan

Match not on in the US (or at least not where I live). Appreciated the liveblog today. Good stuff.

Frog

ESPN+ dude. It’s 5 bucks.

SarcasmB0t

Illegal streaming dude. It’s free.

chepetin

Sometimes the matches are on ESPN Plus (access it from ESPN.com) and sometimes on NBCSN (now Peacock).

Brent Morgan

All right, guys, I got it. ESPN plus. I’ll spend the money on it. That won’t explain why ESPN chose bass fishing over the FA Cup Final. Liveblog was great though

A Different George

It’s worse than that. ESPN will show early round FA Cup matches, UNLESS Arsenal, Man United, Man City, or Liverpool are involved. Then they show it on ESPN + for the extra fee.

HeyGirlNiceArse

‘Murica

goonero

Number 14 brings home number 14

Boilk

The win is so sweet, yet difficult. What a coming back. COYG!

loose_cannon

I love it when a plan comes together!

Chippy87

GET FUCKIN’ INNNNNNNNNNN!

COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best of John Lukic

Weirdest cupfinal I ever saw but still so wonderful. 2nd half was on par with the 1993 replay against Sheff Wed quality wise but who cares? Don’t think the importance of this can be over played. 1 – Shows we’re going places with Arteta. 2 – We’re in Europe. 3- There’s guts in this team after all. Still ups and downs but under Mikel I feel it’s the first time in a decade where our guys aren’t consistently underperforming.Now take this victory and make it count for next year, Arsenal.

Bossman Bill

EMI outstanding when we needed him. Had to be number one now!!!

David Dein

He is very good! He’s my No1 for next season.

Adams9802

Fantastic and quite frankly unexpected end to a horrendous year. Also Anthony Taylor is my favorite referee.

Up North

Auba , please sign tomorrow!!

Jack

Seeing Giroud miserable has made me even happier! ‘Thank you Arsenal’

Adams9802

You sad little toad.

kaius

Why abuse an Arsenal fan on here today of all days, you need your head checked

He’s the opposition today, end of. F*ck him and his plastic club

kaius

Yesss Lacazette clowning Giroud as well

https://twitter.com/SemperFiArsenal/status/1289653122986414081

DaDude

Do we have to hate all ex-Arsenal players, also those that did nothing wrong? I was also sad for Danny being relegated with Watford, hope he finds another PL club. Of course there are players who leave the club and offend club & fans with their actions, and I hate those with a passion. Giroud in my opinion has done nothing wrong. He was sold for reasons attributable to the club, it’s not like he forced a move. Personally I am still happy when Giroud scores for France or for Chelsea in a Euro competition. Of course not in the… Read more »

Tankard Gooner

Should have seen Giroud after last season’s Europa final. Felt good to see him in Luiz’s pocket for most of the game.

Adams9802

I did. His happiness professionally doesn’t mean I revel in his misery, even professionally. He won us a few cups now he’s on another team. People mistake provincialism with fandom.

Frank Bascombe

Au contraire… That’d be you mate.

Adams9802

Nah miserable arsenal fans are par for the course. I frankly hate arsenal fans, pretentious whiny cunts.

Dave

*Knowing John Terry must be miserable has made me even happier. Fixed for you

Bossman Bill

Ashley Cole genuinely looking miserable on the TV tho

Dave

Did we kicked out Spuds from Europe? If so, Mourinho being miserable also will make me even happier

h2k

Unfortunately no, us winning means no Europe for Wolves.

However I think if Wolves win Europa, then Spurs don’t get into Europa (don’t hold me to that).

Public Elneny

C’mon Wolves

Thierry Bergkamp (non negotiable)

If Wolves win Europa they go into Champs League. Spurs Europa spot is safe

Drogheda Gunner

No Chelsea wud be put out of champs league and wud take spurs spot in europa league.

DaDude

I think that’s correct, cause England would have 5 clubs in the CL and 2 in the EL. That would cost Spurs their place.
At least now, they start in qualification round 2 and need to win 3 knockout games to reach the group stage.

We are, by the way, the top seeded club due to our UEFA 5 year ranking and will be drawn from Pot 1.

kaius

No I think it’s Wolves that miss out

kaius

oh the BT pundits said Spurs are knocked back into the 2nd qualifying round hahahahaha

Wilshere’s Middle Finger

Too much, I can’t ?

The Far Post

No. At leastas of now. Top 6 plus Arsenal for max seven Premier League teams in UEFA tournaments. Now things would get interesting if Wolves win EL. 😀

Anonymarse

All the chelsea players and staff, Lampard, Cole all with faces like smacked arses

Gutbukkit Deffrolla

No, they’re really arses. Jut their normal look.

gooner

I like Giroud. seeing him sad made me sad but Arsenal winning the trophy didn’t just make up for it

Gutbukkit Deffrolla

I always liked Giroud. Felt sad he had to try to make a living playing for gits like Chelsea.

goonshow

Celebrate our trophy with just a little style and dignity will you? HFB was only ever a loyal team player for our club. Why take pleasure in his obvious – and entirely reasonable anguish at missing out on the Cup/
Mean spirited and petty.

Chippy Brady

Fantastic fantastic fantastic I am absolutely buzzing love you Auba come on you GUNNNERSS!!!!

Magic City Gooner

Football is good
14 TIMES!!!
London is red
Mikel’s first piece of silverware. Here’s to 30 more

Nketibag

Get in there lads!!!

Hank3103

absolute class, fair play blogs I was away from the TV so the live blog was a life saver, another fa cup whats not to like.
Fantastic from arteta. Hope they back him cos he will bring us back to where we belong if they do.

Cechmate

Give Arteta and Auba the money they want! Both are unique and important for our future!

Jeremy DG

Yeehehehjskkskskdkdkd. Im drunk

Ksam

Me too

Gutbukkit Deffrolla

ABsolutely. Seems to be a common theme tonight. Couldn’t be happier right now. Lets hope the team see this as a turning point liker I do. They could gain some real belief in themselves with beating Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea in the3 last 3 weeks.

Gutbukkit Deffrolla

Sorry for the spelling, Bit pissed right now, So good to have a trophy to celebrate.

Gutbukkit Deffrolla

Woohoo. all my comments are arse about face.

I like us winning stuff. 🙂

yaaaaaaaaaaa

ZjkBXJKHBDXSAhbnK XNUHAJCBVSAIUJknlxabhjbxkNZ BJKDHQWUISNIQZ zqsdqwbygy8wqdsb2gyq8d2bdxi2nqk

Mentalista

“This is not a valid bitcoin address”

Public Elneny Number One

1-0 down
2-1 up Abuameyang won us the cup

chepetin

Wenger used to say that if we fell behind 1-0 he wasn’t worried because Henry hadn’t scored yet. It’s sort of the same with the current vintage of the squad and Aubameyang

Magneto

I suspect that one of Arsene’s biggest regrets is that he didn’t have more time to build a team around Aubameyang. But hopefully Arteta can now do exactly that, subject to Auba signing a new contract.

Duno

I LOVE THIS CLUB!!!

lovely_arse

Champions!

Ksam

Love you Mikel…so happy for him…thank you

Javoroncov

In Arteta I trust!
Thank you all the boys for giving us this wonderful moment amid the darkness of Covid and this season!
Now what we need is a proper transfer window.

typical tantrums

Yay!

Sank

It felt like Arsenal in blue.

Injuries
Bad referring decisions
Unlucky

Auba sign pls………..

RockyRog58

Emi Martinez !!!!!!!❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️❤️

Comedian

Never in doubt
14 14 14

Dave cee

What a nice way to end a shit sandwich of a season.
The Cup is ours again, some revenge on Chelsea for Baku and European football for next season. Hopefully a bit more cash to play with in the transfer market.
I.ll be honest, when I saw the 4 semi finalists I probably had us as 4th favorites for the Cup. Delighted that the team has pulled together and put in the kind of performances that make you proud.
Well done Arsenal and well done Mikel.

Gutbukkit Deffrolla

I thought the same, but now I’m thinking…
We beat Cheslea.
We beat Man City.
We beat Liverpool.
Man utd were lucky not to face us.

goonshow

Not too shite for a team that couldn’t hold a candle to any top 6 rivals just a few months ago!

chepetin

Never in doubt

Kostas

Our two-man midfield managed to force yellow cards to all their midfielders even though they were more!!

Sensational staff from Xhaka and Ceballos. Credit to Arteta.

shokim

Great match! And we have won FA Cup #14! COYG!

Homer

Oh FUCK YES!!!!!

Well done the Arsenal.

Hereford gunner

Such a great final. Arsenal, arsenal, arsenal!!!

Deserved the win massively. Auba top form. Ceballos my man of the match ( although I think he defended poorly for the Chelsea goal), Ainsley played excellently on the left. Need them all next season

mrugunner

cant believe it!
starting to believe in arteta

gooner

starting?

Gutbukkit Deffrolla

Only Now?

Nathan

Anthony Taylor, Arsenal legend! Two-time FA cup winning referee, two red cards, hahaha!

Best of John Lukic

To be fair, the Moses red card in 17 was perfectly fine, Chelsea can’t have any complaints about that. The one today, on the other hand…

Goonerink

If you reverse the orders of the yellows its perfectly understandable.

The first is potentially a red as he leaves the floor and could be judged as not being in complete control of his body.

A Different George

I agree the Moses second yellow was completely justified, but seriously–how many referees would have given a second yellow for diving in a FA Cup final? Taylor deserves credit for that.

Fatgooner

Fuck yes!!!!!!

Crazy end to the craziest season ever!!!!

Fuck you Ashley Cole and your Chelsea scum!!!!!!

truj

Be a generous champion. I feel very very sorry for them 🙂

Fatgooner

Fuck off!!! Chelsea are cunts!!!!

assistantref

Mikel: Guys, guys, just let them run so fast their limbs fall off. Trust me, it’ll work.

#MikelKnows

kaius

Everything that happened to them is what usually happens to us!

Players getting injured for no reason, giving away pens… what a mad game

Forest gooner

Hahaha yeah spot on.

oregoon

My thoughts also. All those years of them thugging it up against us. When we gave them a taste today, they folded. Could not have happened to a better d-bag than Fat Frank.

Kinghenrythe14th

Same way Liverpool game went; Vanstafi and alexmunia gifting us goals

Rufusstan

ya, but when it happens to us we often still win

Spencer

GET INNNNNNNNNN!!!!! AUBAAAAA SIGN DA TING

Kieran Tierney’s Tesco bag

Fucking amazing! Loved that. Just wished we could all have a massive party together but it is what it is. 14! 14! 14! 14!!!

Pakgooner

WE WIN WE WIN WE ARE THE 14 TIMES FA CUP WINNERS UNBELIEVABLE

Gutbukkit Deffrolla

Whoa! That was quick Bloggs. 🙂

Jeth

You little beauty!!
Arteta has won more in a few months than Pochettino did in his whole time with the spuds haha
COYG

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