Arsenal deny Chelsea double as Ramsey seals FA Cup

Arsenal celebrate with the trophy after winning the FA Cup final - Reuters 

Reuters: Arsenal salvaged some silverware from a traumatic season as they denied Chelsea the double with a 2-1 victory in an enthralling FA Cup final thanks to Aaron Ramsey’s late winner on Saturday.

Chelsea had been hot favourites to put the icing on the cake of a remarkable debut season for manager Antonio Conte but were not at their clinical best as Arsenal lifted the Cup for the third time in four seasons.

They have now captured it a record 13 times while boss Arsene Wenger, for whom this could still turn out to be a golden farewell after a 21-year reign in north London, is now the most successful manager in the Cups’ history with seven wins.

Wenger, who failed to finish in the top four in the Premier League for the first time since taking charge in 1996, celebrated with his players in front of the massed red ranks of Arsenal fans at the end.

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey celebrates scoring their second goal with Hector Bellerin - Action Images via Reuters

“We had an outstanding performance from the first minute onwards,” the out-of-contract 67-year-old, who said his future will become clearer next week, said.

“This team has suffered. They’ve united and responded. I said last week this team will be in the championship with one or two good buys. They showed strength and unity and played spectacular football today.”

Conte said the game swung on Sanchez’s goal being allowed and the Moses red card but admitted his side had started slowly.

“The start was not good enough,” the Italian said. “They started better than us. The goal after four minutes was clear handball by Sanchez. But our start wasn’t good.”