FA Cup: How Arsenal chucked the monkey off their backs

“Let me show you how it is done”

Exactly 9 years ago, a Frenchman, pictured below, stepped up to take a penalty. It was the FA cup final between Arsenal and Manchester United. The match was deadlocked at 0-0 after 120 minutes offootball and it went into penalties.The score of penalties was tied at 4-4, and Arsenal, having had the chance to take the last penalty, knew that a successful penalty kick would win them the cup. Arsenal captain, Patrick Vieira, stepped up, and calmly slotted the ball past Manchester United keeper. The whole stadium erupted in joy; players went insane as Arsenal won their 10th FA cup trophy, the oldest competition in football.

Unfortunately, that proved to be Patrick Vieira’s last kick for Arsenal as he was sold to Juventus the following summer. Then came the period when the club had some financial constraints (due to purchase of a new stadium), while, at the same time, rival clubs were taken over by the billionaires of Russia and Qatar. Hence, with unlimited spending power, they bought the players they wanted while Arsenal had to sell the players to make the profit.

Due to lucrative salaries and better chances of winning something, many of the Arsenal stars left for the rivals, questioning the loyalties and breaking the hearts of so many Arsenal fans. That resulted in losses in finals, blowing up the chances to win the leagues, defeats to the oppositions who should never have beaten Arsenal and in turn, a 9 years of trophy drought. The fans had to endure so many 'The last time Arsenal won the league' jokes.

Let's fast forward the time to 17th May 2014. It was the day of the FA Cup final. D-day for Arsenal as some might have said. We were just 90 (or possibly 120) minutes away from laying our hands on silverware, chuck the trophy drought monkey off our backs, and mark our authority in English Football. The opponents were Hull City, an average team to be honest. Everyone expected us to win and hence, there was a huge pressure on us. Even Arsenal's longest serving manager put his job on stake, meant he would leave if we fail to win. It was make or break for us. For me, this was my second final in my 5 years of goonerhood (needless to say we lost the first one). I hadn't seen Arsenal winning anything since I started supporting them; hence this was the biggest occasion for me as well.

The match started, just 3 minutes inside it and Hull scored from a corner. It was a fortunate goal I would say; a miss-hit ball fell to one of their players who diverted it home. Arsenal were shell shocked. They didn't see this coming.

The game restarted, players might have thought ‘OK, it’s just one goal. Let’s move on and try to play our own game’. We then tried to control the game by stringing 2-3 passes together, but failed to do so. In the eighth minute, Hull scored another from a set-piece, a proper goal this time. The scoreboard read Arsenal 0-2 Hull. Arsenal’s frailties against set pieces were evident again. ‘When will they learn? Will they ever learn?’ I gasped. We tried to defend by Zonal Marking for both the set pieces and failed. Players couldn't understand what was going around them. The manager looked dejected. I was watching the match with my cousin who also happens to be an Arsenal fan. We both looked at each other, couldn't believe what we were seeing. I prayed so much for Arsenal before the match and even asked them not to screw it up this time. However, being 2-0 down in the final, against the team like Hull, was unexpected for me even in my worst nightmarish scenario. I was even thinking to reconsider my life.

The match went on, again they attacked and we struggled. If it wasn't for last ditch headed clearance from Kieran Gibbs, the score would have been 3-0. My heart missed a bit at that moment. We all know it had been well and truly over had they scored another. I was like, 'we are not ready; please restart the match, Please!’ The only positive thing about the match was the time. It was only 12 minutes and I knew we had enough time to react. But the question was, ‘will we?’ The ghosts of away days of Etihad, Anfield and StamfordBridge started haunting. I kept convincing myself by saying, ‘This is Hull City and not Manchester one. It can’t be one of those days.’

We then tried to control the game; it looked like only one player was interested in playing. Santi Cazorla, a 29 years old Spaniard. He made the forward runs, tried to take the shots, tried to make the midfield tick. In doing that, he was fouled by an opponent player. A free kick was awarded by referee, Lee Probert, 25 yards away from the goal. Santi stepped up to take the free kick. We didn't score a goal from a FK all season so, no one expected us to convert it. Santi took a few steps back, jogged forward and smacked the ball. It flew over the opposition wall, took a curl and went into the top corner after kissing keeper's gloves. BANG! Suddenly the stadium became alive and the game was on! We announced ourselves onto the pitch. Celebration gestures of Santi resembled those of Gerrard when he scored the first goal against AC Milan in 2005 CL final (typical‘Come on’ gestures). Those gestures alone gave me Goosebumps. However,they all knew there was a mountain to be climbed.

Santi Cazorla at his sumptuous best

Nothing much happened afterwards, referee blew the half time whistle, the score line read Arsenal 1-2 Hull City. What I saw after HT and based on the reports, the manager delivered one of the best prep talks at half time. Chak de India-ish I would say. Also, after the match, Santi told that it was manager’s order to strike the free kick to goal keeper’s left. What a genius man he is!

In the second half, we came out of blocks and controlled the game. It was typical Arsenal as the players were passing the ball around and the opponents were begging for it. However, we didn't create any clear cut chance, which was concerning as the score line still read 1-2. Then came the substitution. Wenger substituted a player with more than 100 caps and 45 goals for Germany for the one who had not scored a goal all season! This raised so many eye brows. Fans were perplexed. TV camera showed so many questioned eyes. However, this proved to be a master stroke as the opponents found it difficult to match the pace and physicality of the newly arrived player (and people say he doesn’t do tactics!). We then dominated the game, sent the waves of attack. They defended like anything.

In the 71st minute, we got a corner. Santi delivered a beautiful ball over the top. After a scramble in the penalty area, Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal's defensive player of the season, swiveled and poked the ball home. Goal! 2-2. we were back on level terms. The players didn’t celebrate this time as the scorer injured his foot while scoring; it was another heart in the mouth moment for me as I knew how important he was for our defense.However, the injury wasn’t serious and he was able to carry on. Now, it was all about the third and final goal, the winning goal. Whoever scored that should have the cup as the clock was slowly approaching 90 minutes. After so much huffing and puffing,no one was able to score and the Lee Probert blew Full Time whistle.

The match went into extra time, two halves of 15 minutes. Penalty kicks if the score was still the same. We forced the issue and took the game to them. Chances were missed, crossbars were rattled, shots were fluffed and 'Ohhhh's were uttered from so many mouths. A couple of brilliant substitutions injected the pace and zip into Arsenal's game. They were pretty much on top while Hull decided to defend for their lives and take the game to penalties. In the 110th minute, after some intelligent exchanges of the ball, Olivier Giroud back heeled the ball into the path of onrushing Arsenal's attacking player of the season, (Welsh Messi as they would say) Aaron Ramsey,who, without hesitation, slotted the ball into Hull's net (he was running tirelessly in the 110th minute of the match,like a machine!). The net was ruffled, the stadium was erupted and the players went berserk. They knew that the cup was within their gasps now and Aaron Ramsey added his name to the lists which contained Charlie Georges, Ray Parlors and Patrick Vieiras.

10 minutes later, Arsenal had won the cup. Players ran around the pitch and celebrated like hell. Some of them were on their knees and succumbed to emotions. The team was awarded the cup and the drought was over. Players chased the manager, grabbed him, soaked him with champagne and gave him Goosebumps. I was ecstatic for him. In difficult times, when others left, he showed loyalty, stayed at the club (by rejecting multimillion salaries offered by richer and bigger clubs), endured the enormous pressure and built the whole team from the ashes. Today, he was reaping the fruits of all the stress and pain he endured during these 9 years. It was his victory more than anyone else's. Suddenly he looked 10 years younger. He had THAT smile on his face which we were devoid of during all these years. Oh God, how have we waited to see this man so happy once more! The man I respect the most,as much as my father. And I think the below picture is going torule the wallsof my pc and mobile for months to come!

"Haters, can't see you from the top of the world"

The next day in North London was bright and sunny. A victory celebration was planned and a mammoth crowd of more than 250,000 fans gathered to see their heroes. Roads were blocked, public transports were detoured, and people were advised not to visit those areas if they were not Arsenal fans. Then came the players and the manager, in the open top bus, crowd went wild. The manager said, ‘Hopefully this is the first and let’s not stop at this.’ The whole area got filled with the chants of ‘In Arsène we trust’. The players then took the charge, boasted about the glory and taunted the rivals. Everything was so perfect for the Arsenal. The whole victory parade was streamed live on Arsenal website. It received so many hits that it crashed eventually. What an overwhelming support!

Talking about myself, well, I waited for so long to see the Arsenal compete in the final. The day finally came and I was up for it. I didn’t sit on the couch for a single second during the whole 120 minutes. I stood in front of the TV, and gave players the instructions (as if they were listening), I yelled at them whenever a pass was misplaced and/or a shot was miscued. I appreciated/clapped when we created a chance or registered a shot on target. People would call me mad if they see me watching an Arsenal match and hence, I always prefer to watch the matches alone.

Regarding the goals, well, I celebrated all 3 goals like crazy. I shouted so much for those 3 goals that I almost lost my voice after the match. Same thing continued on the next day. My throat hurt a lot for the whole day, reminding me of those goals and celebrations. Let me tell you one thing, when you support a football club, there is nothing which could give you more happiness than watching the goals of your team live. Nothing. This was the final and watching your team score and win the final is, well, out of this world. I don’t know when the last time I felt so much joy was. Although all the goals were classic, Santi Cazorla’s curler still revolves in my mind. Hairlets on the back of my neck rise whenever I think of that goal. That run, that smack and that curl. Oh! Less said about that is better. And yes, did I mention about his celebration? This goal will be etched in my heart forever, just like the Arshavin’s goal against Barcelona *swoon*.

Regarding my support to the club, well,I have supported them through thick and thin. I haven’t missed a single Arsenal match in more than 2 years (some sort of record eh!). I have seen more 3:00 AMs than the people studying for master of surgery or civil services exams. Timing of an Arsenal match is the most important factor when I plan my weekends.I have missed so many birthdays, parties, marriages, get-togethers and other social events.I even had to rush half way from the marriage reception ceremony of my best friend because an Arsenal game was scheduled. When you see the glory after so many painful years, it feels like heaven. I don’t know whether I will ever be able to see the Arsenal game live from the stadium. But if I do then, that will be a dream come true for me. If I don’t then, well, my spirit will wander around the Emirates stadium, making it difficult for the oppositions to play.

After 50-60 years, kids of next generations will be told the fairy tale of how Arsenal won the cup final after being 2-0 down inside eight minutes and then went on to win a string of trophies in the coming years!

“2-0 down, 3-2 up. That’s how you win the cup!”