Arsenal beats the odds to book the F.A Cup final for 21st time in its history. Played in an empty Wembley Stadium, this was the second encounter between the Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and his former mentor Pep Guardiola this season. Guardiola had won the duel previously but Arteta won it big this time aided by a spirited Arsenal team. This is the repeat of 16/17 semi-final when the Gunners beat City 2-1 after extra-time on their way to winning the cup for a record 13th time.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the opener in 18th minute with a brilliant outside-of-the-boot finish after squandering an easy chance minutes before. City did not get any clear cut chances in the first half thanks to Arsenal getting bodies in the way to clear their lines repetitively.
In the second half, Aubameyang sealed the match by scoring the second goal in a counter-attack and further dashed the chances of Manchester City winning any silverware this season.
5. City’s Useless Possession
It has been the theme of the season for Manchester City where they have been unable to break teams in spite of having the majority of the possession. They had 91% possession in the opening 20 minutes of the game but only had a goal deficit to show for it. In the second half, the football was played only on one side of the pitch but still, Arsenal was able to score another goal while City had to suffice with sniffing goal opportunity. City had one shot in target in the first 60 minutes and 2 during the whole game.
4. The Fringe Players
Arteta has tinkered with Arsenal’s formation and the squad from the time he has joined the club. He has made Xhaka his main man in the midfield and he produced a masterclass display today. Maitland Niles was given the first team chance after a long time and he made the most of it. He also persisted with the much-criticized duo of David Luiz and Mustafi who were pivotal to the win today. Arteta will hope that the competition for places within the team remains healthy and this type of performance becomes the norm rather than the exception.
3. Master and the Student
A lot has been talked already about the relationship between Arteta and his former mentor Guardiola with questions like how one has learned so much from the other and how the other has helped the former in tactics and getting player positions right. It is worth noting that Arteta had the upper hand tactically in these matches. He outplayed Guardiola in his own game with the first goal having 18 passes across the field before being score. From the three midfielders being man-marked when the defense had the ball, to the narrow, compact back five to prevent combinations in the half-spaces, this was a near-perfect 90 minutes from the Gunners. The mixture of tactics and odd luck is what is needed to beat a world-class team like Manchester City.
2. Silverware
After losing the Premier League to Liverpool, City has now been kicked out of the F.A Cup. They still have Champions league to look forward to and they have already won the League cup for this season. However the season will be judged on their performance against Real Madrid in the second leg. If they are able to overcome Madrid it will boost the morale of the players and they may have a chance at grabbing the Champions Trophy.
As for the Gunners, they were never in the Premier League race and are in fact quite far from securing even a Europa League place next season. However, they have a chance now to seal the first piece of silverware in three years, with the FA Cup itself their last trophy back in 2017. If they are able to win the F.A Cup this season it will be a vindication of Arteta’s progress so far.
1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
If there is one player in the Arsenal team that will make it into any team in the Premier League is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He is head and shoulder above in class in the squad and has been Arsenal’s saving grace this season. Arteta must do everything to hold him on for another couple of seasons. Today’s brace was his fourth and fifth goal since the return of football, putting him on 25 goals for the season. He has the uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time with the right technique to put the ball into the net.