Match Review: Hull City 2 Arsenal 3 (AET) - FA Cup Final - 17.05.14

As you would have expected, the second half was largely attack against defence. But if you were expecting Arsenal to come roaring out of the block with purpose and intent, you would have been quickly disappointed. The tempo was slow and ponderous and the team barely looked as if they knew just how desperately they needed a goal. Eventually we started showing more promise and testing the Hull defence. We should have had a penalty when Giroud was hauled down in the box by Tom Huddlestone. The former Spud clearly using an arm to bring down the Frenchman and allow his keeper to collect. We were then denied a second stonewall penalty, when Cazorla raced clear in the box and checked back on himself, only to be chopped down by Davies. The Hull man swung through with such force that he also sent himself flying, as well as the little Spaniard. With two massive decisions having gone against us, we deserved the bit of luck that then came our way.

Image © www.themirror.co.uk

Sanogo had been introduced for Podolski, as we changed our shape in the search of an equaliser. The two strikers up top seemed to be yielding some reward, but we got a slice of luck when a cross was flicked into the side netting by Sanogo. The ref thought the last touch came off a Hull man and awarded a corner, though replays showed that it was clearly Sanogo who sent the ball behind. When the corner came in, a combination of Sagna, Giroud’s back and a Hull defender forced the ball to drop in the six yard box and Laurent Koscielny, so often the man for the big occasion, swivelled and somehow diverted the ball in. In the process, he caught his ankle sickeningly underneath the Hull keeper and, for a while, looked to have done some serious damage. But in the end he rose to his feet and saw he’d given us a vital equaliser.

With the scores level and Hull tiring, it was time for an all out siege on the Hull goal. The best chance of the entire game fell to the one person you would probably prefer it not to. Sanogo battled his way into the box and pulled the ball across goal at the second time of asking. There was Kieran Gibbs, six yards out with the goal gaping. He took a touch, steadied himself…..and blazed wildly over the bar. An incredible miss and maybe indicative as to why he converted from a winger to a full back. We were then denied a third stonewall penalty, as Cazorla was again sent tumbling in the box, with an excellent chance to score. It would have also seen Meyler, who should have been banned for the final anyway, sent off, as he’d already received one booking. The frustration continued and inevitably, extra time was required.

Extra time meant extra torture, but I think most of us were just relieved that we’d done enough to earn it. As the side with better fitness and quality, there was more chance of us finding the necessary breakthrough too. Our big chance in the first half of extra time came when Ramsey dispossessed a Hull defender on the edge of the area and floated a ball in towards Giroud. The striker attacked the ball brilliantly, but powered his header onto the bar. You can’t get much closer without scoring.

Image © www.themirror.co.uk

The dilemma at extra-time half time was what to do with the prospect of penalties. Would Wenger stick or twist? The manager clearly didn’t fancy penalties and decided to roll the dice, taking off Cazorla and Özil and replacing them with Wilshere and Rosicky. It meant that only Giroud and Arteta were left in terms of main penalty takers. Aaron Ramsey would have probably taken one (he takes them for Wales), but beyond that, it was difficult to see who would step up. We had to get the result before penalties were needed and thankfully, the moment we’d been craving for nine years came in the 109th minute.