Player Ratings – FA Cup Final Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0

Player Ratings – FA Cup Final Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0

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This is the type of important match that, up until last year, Arsenal tended to get a bit wrong. Heavy favourites, the Gunners would often underperform, and whether it was multiple, disastrously-timed cases of nerves, or something less funny, it was bad regardless.

The loss to Birmingham City in the 2011 League Cup final is perhaps the most awful example of this unwanted habit. However, after 10 years of drifting in the trophyless doldrums, they won this very competition last season. Hull City was their opponent that year, and after going up 2-0, Steve Bruce’s men contrived to lose 3-2 after extra time. Aston Villa, the opponents this season, were this year’s underdog hoping for an upset. Villa, no matter how revitalised they appeared at first under Tim Sherwood, seem to have one eye on the dreamy indolence of the off-season, losing their final two Premier league games – after having secured survival – by an aggregate score of 7-1. Tim Sherwood donned his Sunday best for this match, no doubt disposing of the gillet in the vigorous manner he did against Arsenal when he was Spurs manager.

Arsenal

Wojciech Szczesny – 8: Punched strongly, rising above Benteke in the 12th minute – no small feat. Looked up for the challenge with Villa’s Belgian striker. Was a stolid presence, and was largely untested in the second-half.

Hector Bellerin – 7.5: Speedily hustled down the right, crossing for Ramsay on 16’, who only narrowly missed. Was energetic and reliable all afternoon. 

Per Mertesacker – 9: Tall, assured, and was largely capable dealing with Benteke. Scored Arsenal’s third goal, an open header from a swooping corner.

Laurent Koscielny – 8: Was twice a threat from set piece situations, drawing a fine save from Given early. Stifled Benteke throughout.

Nacho Monreal – 7: Was not seen or heard, but in the good way you want from defenders. Did his job, worked within his role, and reaped the rewards.

Francis Coquelin – 8: Hit a lovely cross field ball early, showing himself to be more than just a midfield bulldog. Repeated the trick on 40’ in the build-up to the opening goal. Was at times a little too committed in the tackle, but was not stung for it.

Santi Cazorla – 9: Skinned Benteke on 10’, winning a free kick. The ball seemed magnetically drawn to him in the centre of the pitch. Played the full 90 minutes and was faultless for each of them.

Aaron Ramsey – 7.5: Missed two chances in the opening 20’, though neither were golden. Interacted with bright footspeed with Ozil and Sanchez. Was less decisive than last yea, but enjoyed a satisfying afternoon.

Mesut Ozil – 9: Seemed typically himself, disappearing and then suddenly reappearing with a moment of clarity and quality. Backheels and nutmegs punctuated his opening half-an-hour. Danced through defenders, passed interestingly. Stayed active and influential until he was subbed in the 76th.

Alexis Sanchez – 10: Linked up well with Ozil and Ramsay, and was the subject of Alan Hutton’s loose feet. Nodded a cross back across the six-yard box, assisting Walcott for the first goal. Then, out of nothing, and with no clear sight at goal, he smashed in a thunderbolt. Swerving violently, the shot clipped the underneath of the bar, quite possibly splitting it, such was the power behind it. A supremely decisive act, putting Arsenal up 2-0. Was subbed on 88’.

Theo Walcott – 9: Somehow missed a gilt-edged chance from five yards out, hitting his shot straight at the sprawling Richardson. Made up for it by thrashing in the opener on 40’, a clinical shot of power and accuracy from a tight angle. Came alive after his goal, and in the second-half, making numerous stinging runs. Was subbed on 76’.

Substitutes 

Olivier Giroud – 8: Came on at 76’, for Walcott. Tapped in the cherry-on-top fourth goal in added time.

Jack Wilshere – 7.5: Came on at 76’, for Ozil. Danced merrily once the game was won, enjoyed the party, as usual.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 8: Came on at 88’, for Sanchez. Set up Giroud’s goal.

Unused Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini.

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Aston Villa

Shay Given – 7: Saved superbly from a Koscielny header, palming the ball away (14’). Was very impressive throughout the first-half. Was utterly beaten to a pulp by Sanchez’s goal, Arsenal’s second. Saved Cazorla’s 57th minute shot to keep it at 2-0. Was let down by his teammate Benteke for the third goal. The fourth came as a blow when he, and the rest of his team, were already numb.

Alan Hutton – 6: Crunched Sanchez in the opening two minutes, setting a tone of sorts. Crunched him again half-an-hour later, and earned a booking. Was rarely seen affecting play at the attacking end of the pitch.

Ron Vlaar – 6: Was culpable, along with partner Okore, of loose marking at a few Arsenal set pieces. Was flummoxed by the opposition’s quick passing.

Jores Okore – 6: Did not impress particularly, and was outplayed by Arsenal’s attackers. Should have beaten Sanchez in the air in the build up to the first goal. Ran a lot, but was a clear class below.

Kieran Richardson – 7: Was keen to get forward and launch bombs in for Benteke to attack. Saved a sure goal with a desperate block on 24’. Was subbed, after picking up a knock, by Bacuna on 67’. The best of the Villa defenders.

Ashley Westwood – 5: Ran and shouted in the first-half, but made little-to-no impact. Was not seen in the second half, where Arsenal countered with venom. Was subbed on 71’.

Fabian Delph – 7: Tigerishly pressing the Arsenal defenders and midfielders, showing his usual bite. Was a little too eager wrestling Ozil for a bouncing ball in the first-half, earning a booking. Valiantly continued his industry in the second-half, for matters of pride only.

Tom Cleverley – 6.5: Was booked early (14’) for a cynical, and silly foul on Monreal. Could not stop Arsenal bypassing him on the counter, and though he remained energetic and tidy, it was a vain effort. 

Jack Grealish – 6.5: Pressed well high up the pitch with Delph and N’Zogbia, but was loose in possession in both halves. Might have had a penalty in the second-half, not that it would have changed the ultimate result. Tried hard, but went cold after Arsenal had killed the game.

Charles N’Zogbia – 6: Had a largely quiet first-half making a negligible impact offensively. Was subbed early in the second.

Christian Benteke – 6.5: Was stitched up by a lovely turn from Cazorla, giving away dangerous free kick on 10’. Won a fair few headers, but his knockdowns were consistently snuffed out by Arsenal defenders. Was rarely given top-notch service from which to aim headers on goal. Allowed Mertesacker far too much room from a corner for Arsenal’s third goal.

Substitutes

Gabby Agbonlahor – 6: Came on at 52′. Made very little impact, as the game was snatched away by Arsenal. Was denied a foul which might have been inside the box, but Jon Moss waved play on. Continued arguing about it with referee Moss long after the fact, and was booked. 6/10

Leandro Bacuna – 6: Came on at 67′ for Richardson. Made no impact.

Carlos Sanchez – N/A: Came on at 71′ for Westwood. Made no impact.

Unused subs: Guzan, Sinclair, Cole, Baker.

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