It's Finally Over

I intentionally delayed writing about our FA Cup win on Saturday night or rather Sunday morning over Hull City, ending our nine year wait for a major trophy since the last time we won one, ironically also the FA Cup.

Nothing beat the winning feeling, seeing your beloved team lifting the trophy, ending all jokes about the dusty trophy cabinet which I think would still be the envy of most clubs with the content inside.

However, being Arsenal they did not their fans have it easy.

After nine years of painful wait, coming close on a number of occasions The Gunners conceded two goals within seven minutes of the match starting.

Both came from Hull City centre-backs with James Chester reacting quickly to a mishit volley by Tom Huddlestone to divert it past Lukasz Fabianski. Then Curtis Davies was first to a loose ball after his team-mate, Alex Bruce's header hit the post.

Bruce himself could have got his name on the scoresheet when he connected with the ball from a corner but Gooners around the world was relieved to see Kieran Gibbs headed the ball away off the line.

Then Arsenal were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position when Santi Cazorla was fouled. The Spaniard picked himself up and his effort had Allan McGregor beaten all the way to reduce the deficit.

The goal lifted Arsenal and from that moment I felt that we would win the cup. Though I was careful not to show it too much.

It was frustrating to see we could not find the final pass to really level the score. Frustration too when referee, Lee Probert ignored a couple of good calls for penalty as Steve Bruce's men tried desperately to hang on to their lead.

Ironically, the equaliser came when Probert made another wrong call by awarding us a corner when it should have been a goal-kick to Hull City.

From it Laurent Koscielny escaped from his marker and volleyed home the ball that came his way off the back of Chester after Yaya Sanogo had won the header.

2-2 and I was really hoping that we could end it within regulation time. I almost had my wish fulfilled with Olivier Giroud and Gibbs had chances to score the winner.

Nevertheless it went into extra-time.

At that time the winning feeling was still with me but we must find the winner soon and not let it go to the penalty shootout.

Then came the combination play that was worthy of winning a cup final. Sanogo was picked up with a pass from the middle and he played the ball to Giroud who in turn set up Aaron Ramsey, whose first time touch was enough to beat McGregor.

I knew this was going to be the winner though Hull City came twice to spoil it towards the end of extra-time.

We held on nevertheless and at the final whistle ARSENAL ARE WINNERS again!


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