That really couldn’t have gone better, it’s always better when it’s a come back. A come back in a game is great, but when that game makes the season into a come back, ah, that is sweet.
We looked very much second best for the first 20 minutes. They were all over us like a rash, making chances for fun. Or so it seemed to me from behind my sofa. I feared the worst, but seriously, what do I know?
Ceballos, who had been brushed aside in the build up to their goal, and the rock that is Xhaka, got a grip of the midfield and we came back strong. The attitude was perfect, we used the space in behind, with long balls into space at every opportunity, a ploy that saw us draw level when Aubameyang got on the end of one and was hauled down in the box. I’ve seen Liuz sent off for the same offence, but it was just a yellow. The explanation was that he tried to win the ball, he didn’t, it should have been a red. All the same we dominated the game until half-time and could easily have gone in ahead.
Chelsea worked their way into the game in the second half, but just when it looked like we might struggle to hold them, Hector, full of vegan energy, powered through the midfield and the ball ended up at Aubameyang’s feet, a jink and a left-foot chip and it was 2-1.
I never felt we would lose from that point.
No need for me to pap on, you all saw the game, it was a good game and we thoroughly deserved our 14th FA cup victory. It sees us back in Europe and gives more power to Arteta’s elbow.
By the way, some of the performances of our players were epic.
Speak soon.
COYG
Pedantic George
Positively Arsenal 
Epic is totally the right word I still can’t believe it fantastic brilliant excellent I’m so excited. Back in love with football I’m such a fair weather supporter.
This team has some magic about it. COYG …. Positivesters I Love you all.
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Arteta on what makes you so confident Aubameyang will stay and can we expect to hear some news on him in the next week?
I hope so. Everything is based on my conversations with him, how he sees his future, what I expect from him, the team I want to build around him and the conversations I have with the people that are very influential around him.
We all respect him, we admire him. We know the players we have and we have to value him. If we reach all of those points I think we’ll get an agreement
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Mesut Özil
@MesutOzil1088
·2h
Great job my boys!!! 🏆👏🏼❤️#YaGunnersYa #FACupWinners
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🏆. Match of the Day in a few mins.
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If Arteta also gets medals for City’s league cup win, and possibly, ( unless UEFA stitch them up) Champions league as well for being part of the team for the first half of the season, could be a decent haul of medals for him??
Think this will mean the most though , by a long way
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And a nice medal haul for Eddie this season as well
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9 of our 20 man squad in the final today have played for our youth team
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Mandy you will also find that Mesut Ozil won his 4th FA Cup winners medal today too, I would suggest that is the most by any Arsenal player
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i dont think i will sleep today. Now Arsenal are the undisputable Cup Kings of England with 14 FA Cups. on top of being the only Invincibles and only team with 20 Consecutive Champions League qualification. Arsenal Forward Always.
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Four cup winners medals, impressive, even for a World Cup winner, who I think played every game for Germany.
Certainly Cannot this think of any of our players who have won more?
If Ozil really is off, for whatever unfathomable reason, Hopefully quite a send off
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It Is a miracle we have won the Arsene Wenger cup despite the way we lost Kos Ramsey .Ozil being sidelined for unknown reasons.
With the Pigmob favouring us a bit made things easy & we got lucky as well with Chelsea faced successive injuries. Not taking anything away from Arteta and his boys.
Don’t forget to thanks Arsene Wenger to have left us with such a wonderful set of squad in , Mustafi Ozil, Bellerin,Xhaka,Auba,
Laca & a youth team set up providing us promising talent every year.
In the end my usual dig at the idiot fans at Aftv Arseblog Legroan who disrespcted our greatest manager ever did they get what they wished for? Where is the League title they promised us will come as soon as Wenger departs. It’s been 2 years and counting…..
I am sure these idiot fans are missing the 4th place trophy but will they ever admit??
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Man, some of these comments are bizarre. Still banging on about Arsene – seriously?
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Jimmy B. You may find it bizzare
But don’t you remember those idiot fans always down played us when Arsene Wenger won the trophy 3 timez in 4 years. They always said it is no achievement to win the outdated FA cup. They made a joke of Wenger for keeping us Top 4 year in year out for 2 decades.
We have suffered from there idiotic rehetoric for a decade. Now it is time for us to mock them. We will keep asking them about when will Arsenal win the league and the CL they promised us once Wenger leaves.
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Noticeable how we are refereed differently in the FA cup, opposition players actually given cards for bad tackles – you could just imagine fat frank thinking – it doesn’t normally work like this.
Mind you I thought the Chelsea defender (Azpillecuta ?) should have been given a red card, also the VAR check was taking so long I worried they were looking for an excuse to overturn.
Great win though.
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Essex. Exactly wonder why we are reffed fairly in a FA cup game. Six cards fir Chelsea against one for us.
Probably the Pigmob tries to eradicate the impression that we have no bias against Arsenal.
But I know they have a strong proven bias against us as we have been seeing since 2008 & .I am sure usual service will resume In the PL immediately.
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Yes Jimmy. We here appreciate Arsene and wont let the cunts that were 100% wrong forget it.
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Utterly magnificent end to the longest season in history, with possibly our best two or even three performances in a few years coming right at the end of it. Well worth waiting for, though I don’t expect LiVARpool, Citeh or the Chavs to agree.
When the restart got going, I looked at the fixtures with some dread and it didn’t hugely improve as the FA Cup draw opened up. I fully expected to be defending Arteta after a string of haphazard – or downright disappointing – results, on the basis that this was not his first full season blah, blah.
He had too many players to move on, too many players to coach some form and discipline into, and too little time.
Turns out the ‘dead wood’ pile is a modest one, and MA has used the lock-down time-off to the full, to present a transformation in the form of maybe half a dozen players. Yes, he got lucky in the discovery that the club has not one but two world-class goal-keepers, tucked away quietly. It would appear he has drawn a line through Mesut and Guendouzi and he has drawn upon a rich seam of youth fearlessly and with conviction. Most importantly, he’s got these guys playing for him, the club and for their own self-respect. Truly admirable stuff.
And now, for the first time in 3 years, we await the new season with genuine excitement and real hope. I would not be surprised by a top four finish, even if the transfer window only delivers a modest harvest of proven talent and future prospects.
And if he achieves that elevation alone, in his first full season, he will have succeeded in turning us right round, baby, right round.
A fascinating transfer window now opens up.
Enjoy your summer, Mikel, and thank you.
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ArsenalAndrew
“has drawn upon a rich seam of youth fearlessly and with conviction”
has though, yesterday he dared not risk putting on any of Willock, Nelson or Saka, he brought on Kolasinac instead. Nketiah got a late run out too.
we all, me included, over hype our young lads a bit. I’ve said it before, guys like Nelson, Nketiah and Willock will have good, maybe even very good, careers, but still not convinced it will be for Arsenal. We would be extremely lucky if even 2 of the young lads who have played for us this season become real stars for us, if we are lucky enough for even Saka and Martinelli to make it big for us, then we should be overjoyed. If more than that do, then Arteta will be a wonder coach.
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Wow! It is really a pinch yourself football moment. Two standout games where we played as a team and managed and controlled the games in a way that even the pundits had to applaud through gritted teeth. So there I was starting to believe, and then followed two games that quickly dispelled those thoughts.
So yesterday morning I convinced myself that getting to the final following a masterclass display against City, it was time to enjoy and like Andrew I had rehearsed in my head how I would defend Mikel and that it was a stepping stone on the way to recovery.
This morning with immense pride and pleasure I have had to rewrite the script.
The scenes at the end of the match epitomised the Arteta effect, smiles on the players faces genuine togetherness, player and manager as one.
Although I am not at Islington town hall waving my flag this morning I am starting to believe.
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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EeX87PIXgAYqVK0?format=jpg&name=900×900
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AFCMikel
@AFCPW
·
59m
Early transfer market movement: Coventry have made a six-figure bid for Ben Sheaf while Swindon would like to sign Matt Smith on loan.
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Dani Ceballos has said that wherever he plays next season he has to play at least 35 games. He is keen to play for Spain the in the Euros.
He said he will speak with Real Madrid and see what they have to say.
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One thing that the empty stadiums have helped show is that Arteta gives instructions to the players in their own language, he can instantly change from English, to Spanish, to French to Portuguese, he also speaks Italian, Basque and Catalan
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Arsenal being linked with the signing of Sevilla’s Brazilian Central Defender Diego Carlos. His agent is part of the wider agent group of super agent Kia Joorabchian
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Sensible points there Eduardo. The problem with young players is, as you say, that they are young, often lacking the physical strength and stamina to go with their talent. And consistency, and experience come to think of it. We like to think there will be an inevitable progression from young hopeful to seasoned pro, but it doesn’t always happen. But, if they can be patient and work hard then I think they have the ideal manager to help them make that progression.
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Jeez, that felt good.
Pattern very similar to City game with us looking really shaky at start, with threat it could be over before begun, rallying, playing best stuff from about 15-20 till half time. 2nd half looking worrying, with us sitting, looking a bit tired, then Mr Aubameyang striking!
Immense hard work from team. Felt so damn good to win it. Somehow I managed to forget about Europe right through game, so was a great moment after when, with sound back on, commentators mentioned it.
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Guess I’m with you on those younger players Ed. Question occurred to me this week whether any of them had done better than Iwobi at same stage- 30,40,50 games- of career/s.
Different players each of them but don’t think they have.
Worried about Iwobi to be honest. After a reasonable start, gone downhill for him at Everton. Got a lot of stupid stick for posting a photo in designer gear getting on a plane this week. Then saw him post something a bit sad yesterday, saying something like ‘let me be; let me live’
Don’t know how career goes from here for him. Can’t picture how he thrives.
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And whether a player really makes it at the top level is a lot to do with mentality. Most players have their own level where they are entirely comfortable, but struggle when they go up to the next level. Its not just about skill, but about pressure I think. Tecnically there is not much beteen the top 500 golfers in the world, and yet the same players dominate the Majors and Tour events. In cricket you see it most notably when players are called up to the Test team: a few look as if they have been there all their life, more struggle to replicate the fom they show at the level below. Football is interesting too: when I watched Brighton back in the 70s go from the Third to the First Division in no time at all, I saw that there was a pool of players for each division (which is why not every pro wants their club to be promoted I guess). When our youngsters break into the First Team I always look at key moments and how they react to those. Do they tuck away the chance with confidence, or do they somehow manage to scuff or snatch it? One such moment for me was when Emi Martinez came on after Leno’s injury at Brighton. Seconds after the game restarted he made a really sharp save: a well-hit shot came through a crowd of players. Not only was he swiftly down on it, but it stuck to his gloves like glue. Since then he has played for The Arsenal as if he believes he is the best keeper in the world. Sako displays the same confidence, but needs a bit of time to strengthen up. Martinelli could be great for us, but nobody knows how he will come back from injury.
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Oh what a beautiful morning…
Speaking of young players, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is just a year older than the “good for a 21 year-old” Guendouzi was hugely impressive in semis and finals.
I know I said it before, but during Wenger’s final season he had more great moments than MG got since arriving here, so I was quite miffed when Emery put him on the deadwood pile for project MG that is now dead in the water.
So if news is true that Arsenal was looking to move him on this summer… I do hope he stays with MG now halfway out the door.
The young lad seems like the Özil introvert type and just need an arm around the shoulder from time to time. Esp with Arsenal “supporters” having that special knack to chip away at player confidence. I’m gonna stick my neck out here and say he is already better than Ox was before he left Arsenal.
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How good was yesterday, and to see the players and staffs reaction. City in the Semi, Chelsea in the final, and some roughing up on the way at Bournemouth, Pompey and Sheff Utd. Won it the hard way.
Unlike a group of people I firmly disagree with, Arsenal never had any intention of leaving Europe
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Surely reached stage where can’t be questioned the refereeing is different in cup, with, thinking about it, only Dean and Atkinson being the same.
Galling as it was to see their guy stay on pitch when history suggests so firmly it would be red for us, in other aspects so different. Few clear fouls ignored, yellows for heavier stuff, and even, ha, a second yellow that probably shouldn’t have been.
Thought Chelsea still managed to get in a lot of clumps regardless but all the same the difference is huge when being penalised for many of them. Bit of a telltale was how weird it felt to get two central free-kicks in good positions.
Can we please have someone who’ll give Alonso a bit of own medicine next year though! He’s a scumbag.
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foreverheady do you remember the story of right back Moritz Voltz, he was a standout youth in our Academy, won the FA Youth Cup in 2000 and 2001, he made his debut in a league cup game in 2000 at just 17 years old, a year later he played his second and final game for AFC in another league cup game. He went on loan to Wimbledon and then was sold to Fulham, where he had a decent spell, 125 EPL games in 5 years. Well the reason he had only 2 games for AFC, in both games he suffered breathing problems, brought on by the pressure of playing for Arsenal. Seem him give an interview about it a few years ago. He said a lot of players fail to reach their potential due to problems dealing with the pressure of having to play well. the bigger the team the more pressure they have to cope with. He admitted he was unable to deal with it at AFC. He had never felt any pressure playing for our youths or reserves so was totally unprepared when it happened to him.
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Mandy Arsenal have the longest unbroken run of years in Europe, 25, of any English club
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Certainly seems to be a difference in refereeing in the Cup, as good as this club are in the cup, I doubt if we would have won it so many times had Riley not laid off.
Chelsea did get away with things yesterday, and even thought we got the rub of the green a couple of times in ways we wouldn’t have in the league.
UA did some research a while back and came to the conclusion refs are not under the same orders in the cup , for whatever reason
. That said, I am glad we did it have to face Utd in the final, I will never trust their relationship with English refs in any game. Even if not directly under orders, I would imagine it would be hard for refs not to subconsciously and automatically slip back into their ways once they see the Utd shirt
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Arteta (on Mustafi & Saliba at the game) “They are all part of it. We don’t have Matteo and Mesut here and they are a big part of it because they all contributed to it. They all should be a big part of it because all of them have contributed to this country.”
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mandy in the EPL they “Game Manage”, to “protect the EPL Brand”, in the cups they apply the rules far more.
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The data shows the difference in the officiating, it’s there in black and white, cards per foul for and against etc. It’s ok though as Per Arteta’s comments (scuse the BFG pun!) both at City and since his return indicate that when it comes to trying to play Football in the league and the “challenges” the broadcasters have for the sports lovers, that:
Arteta Knows.
Did you all taste, savour and enjoy the salty tears of the Danny Murphy at the Bleeb and the BT clowns hooting and screeching anything to distract the fact that Chelsea did not have a shot on goal after the 10th minute.
Oh, did they not like that! Anything to distract from the Gunners’ performance in the aftermath.
UTA
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Pretty sure cup appointments are made by FA- likely Elleray as think he’s till head of refs there. Prem it’s all pgmol, with assumption Riley in charge of all appointments.
Good chance the two are totally separate, ie the assessment and feedback divided same way, with Riley not involved where FA cup concerned. He/pgmol do all the rankings, assessment etc for prem, which is crucial for match payments, prospects of more matches, better matches, etc, and to top it off, he can decide what bonus to pay them at end of season, including, presumably, none at all. Must also have big say in who gets chance offing UEFA/FIFA ranks. A ref surely can’t succeed unless learns what Riley wants and implements it in prem.
Finally, I doubt he has much if any say in preparation for refs ahead of cup games, whereas for prem expect he often has input.
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That’s a sad but familiar story Eduardo so thanks for reminding me. On the Europe front I do wonder how those competitions will play out with the shadow of Covid hanging over the new season.
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Niles played at RWB in Baku. He looked a different footballer under the fraud. Not the same footballer. His touch went, his calmness on the ball evaporated. Resulting from a combination of poor training, poor coaching (“calm calm calm” -how did that fraud get the job?) & poor tactics.
Yesterday he played on his weaker side against the same opponents, and was pulling off skills you didn’t see him try last season when he lacked the combination of physical fitness and confidence. He now looks the same player he was before Emery’s arrival, Arsene’s heir has got him playing as he was under AW, and that’s the simple difference none of the bullshitting know-nothing blaggers have been able to note and observe. But there it is! Football. It’s a simple game.
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Auba’s second, the broadcasters lauded the finish but not the craft that led to such a moment.
Like an all time great fast bowler Auba had flashed a few warnings past Kurt’s nose on two or three occasions when cutting back onto his right for a couple of half chances in that second half, as Laca & Pepe grew into the contest.
before reversing his angle of attack and catching his opponent off balance. that’s how and why he sold him a dummy on that third occasion, going back the other way after having previously put the Fear (of his right foot) into his opponent’s mind.
That’s why it was World Class.
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Rich 1222, if Richard Keys is to be believed, Riley operates to the extent of hangIng around Shockley Park interfering with the workings of the VAR refs.
Eduardo 12.09 agree 100%
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rich did you know that the EPL insist that its PGMOL game managers that take charge of the Championship play off games and play off final. One would have to ask why, Championship refs have done all of each teams 46 league games, but are not allowed Ref the 4 play off games or its final. Would it not be a great chance for them to show they are ready, like the teams involved, to step up to the EPL games
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The ghost of Emery has been exorcised.
A man I now despise , not because he was a poor coach, out of his depth, I can accept such failings as long as you do your best, we are all human after all. And I am sure there are mitigating factors with Emery, his boss for starters.
My gripe with Emery, his weakness, throwing great players under the bus, and worst of all….Xhakas treatment. I hope those who wanted a new deal for Emery last summer are now well under manners , we could easily have been relegated had he stayed , partly because I suspect key players developed as much contempt for him as I now have
Still, the club moves on
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something rotten with Arsenal’s media department,
this is what Arteta said
Mikel Arteta: “Matteo [Guendouzi] & Mesut [Özil] were not here but they were a big part of this & contributed to this trophy. Let’s just enjoy the moment.”
this is what was reported on Arsenal.com
on Guendouzi and Ozil not being at the stadium…
Let’s enjoy this moment.
I’ve said it before, but we can’t really complain much about how the media report on Arsenal, when Arsenal themselves act like this. Same as when the club helped promote Robbie and his band of cunts, with Gazidis only too happy to give them interviews etc
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yesterday marked 70 years of Ken Friar working for Arsenal
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Mandy, can well believe he lurks there. Ridiculous if so.
Ed, think that’s one of those things- the top guys for vitally important game- that (a) makes sense if they are actually excellent refs and (b) leads to that question of, if more money rides on a contest, is it more important?
Do promotion and relegation now actually mean more, because so much more money involved? I’m not sure. The same issue dictates that it would now be seen as ok, or even right, for many a club to get in prem and ignore any concerns about decent football for any number of years in order to stay there. That leads inexorably to lots of pretty drab football, negative tactics, cheating, etc.
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Ainsley playing yesterday made me think again of first sighting of him. Off bench late in nextgen semi against Chelsea. Exciting game on, if remember right, awful pitch.
Little shock just now seeing it was over 7 years ago.
Another two on pitch yesterday- Bellerin and Cristensen- played that day. Lots of familiar names both sides. They edged us on day, with plenty to do with physical advantage, but I consoled myself as did after many a youth defeat for them, thinking our best 3-5 are as good if not better, and that’s main thing. Reckon that’s been borne out. Line-ups below.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2301140/Arsenal-3-Chelsea-4-Young-Blues-make-NextGen-final.html
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Ainsley playing yesterday made me think again of first sighting of him. Off bench late in nextgen semi against Chelsea.
Another two on pitch yesterday- Bellerin and Cristensen- played that day. Lots of familiar names both sides. They edged us on day, with plenty to do with physical advantage, but I consoled myself as did after many a youth defeat for them, thinking our best 3-5 are as good if not better, and that’s main thing. Reckon that’s been borne out. Line-ups below.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2301140/Arsenal-3-Chelsea-4-Young-Blues-make-NextGen-final.html
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Great win.
All said and done, I’m much happier to get into Europa via the FA Cup than League position because it means a trophy.
Best team among all of England’s football divisions.
Arsenal!!!!
Sad the way the club is misreporting the head coach’s statement to leave it mention of Matteo and Mesut.
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