20/5/2014 0 Comments A 9 year wait - A Great WinI have had a smile on my face since Saturday, when the Arsenal beat Hull City 3-2 in the FA Cup Final. I have been told from several quarters that it was a great final, and after the event it feels great but during the game I was going through the mill. Arsenal started slowly and Hull went for it from the kick-off. The Gunners defence being slow to react to Hull's pressing cost them a goal after 3 minutes. The defence's failed in clearing danger from a cross and paid the price when Chester scored from close quarters. #AFC 0 Hull 1 Worse came 5 minutes later when Hull's free kick (from 9 yards farther upfield than the offence occurred) was once more not cleared. Goalkeeper Fabianski made a good save onto the post but Davies scored from a tight angle. #AFC 0 Hull 2 Kieran Gibbs needs a special mention for clearing off the Arsenal goal line shortly after this. Arsenal needed to react and began pressing. On 17 minutes, Steve Bruce's son Alex gave away a free kick outside the penalty area. Santi Cazorla hit the ball superbly passed McGregor - an absolute quality strike and glorious. #AFC 1 Hull 2 In their swing, the Arsenal continued to press but could not take any of their chances and Hull looked as though they also meant business. No more breakthroughs for either side by half time, but to me the Arsenal did look as though they could at least draw level as long as they percevered. This pattern carried on - both Arsenal and Hull creating chances. Arsene Wenger sent on Yaya Sanogo for Lucas Podolski. I was more than a little concerned that the Hull defenders were getting away with all manner of holding in the box. Karma stepped in and a corner was awarded to Arsenal after Gunner Sanogo was last to touch the ball. When this ball came in Laurent Koscielny showed he wanted to get to a ball in the goal area more than anyone else and put the ball in from close range on 71 minutes. #AFC 2 Hull 2 As a partial fan, I was so happy that Arsenal had drawn level. It had been a hard fought game, now the Gunners needed to steady things again. Into Extra-Time and more of the same. Still 2-2 after the first period. Last roll of the dice for Arsenal. Wenger replaces Ozil and Cazorla with Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky. Their added pace and menace leads to more chances. On 109 minutes, the oft-maligned Olivier Giroud back-heels in the box to Aaron Ramsey who scores with a very nicely taken shot. #AFC 3 Hull 2 Now Arsenal, just hold on. It has been a great comeback. Per Mertesacker slips and Fabianski sells himself. The Hull striker flashes the ball towards the Arsenal goal. Kieran Gibbs is dashing towards the Arsenal goal as the ball rolls towards the goal along the goal line -- somehow he swings his foot at the ball and misses it, but the ball goes just wide of the post. Breathless stuff. The final whistle goes and it is smiles for everyone except the folks from Hull who had contributed such a lot to the proceedings. At this point, I began to realise how important this win has been not only to Arsenal Football Club and Arsene Wenger, but also to the fans and more surprisingly to me. They had won against the odds and after such a long time showing such great promise but always finishing just a little short. I did shed a tear of joy just after the whistle. I thought it was a great game, but the result skews my view. I make no apology for loving the Arsenal Football Club. They are the only club I have only truly followed. I have seen others and gone to other clubs but Arsenal is special and I wear my heart on my sleeve when I talk about them. Happy Days!!!
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