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IT will go down as one of the most improbable and memorable finals.

Arsene Wenger’s team have been accused of lacking fight, resilience and the will to win this season.

 Arsenal have won the 2017 FA Cup after defeating Chelsea at Wembley
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Arsenal have won the 2017 FA Cup after defeating Chelsea at WembleyCredit: Action Images Via Reuters
 Arsene Wenger guided the club to their 13th FA Cup triumph
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Arsene Wenger guided the club to their 13th FA Cup triumphCredit: Action Images Via Reuters
 Aaron Ramsey secured a third FA Cup in four years as Arsenal defeated Chelsea at Wembley
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Aaron Ramsey secured a third FA Cup in four years as Arsenal defeated Chelsea at WembleyCredit: Action Images Via Reuters
 Alexis Sanchez had opened the scoring in controversial circumstances after four minutes
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Alexis Sanchez had opened the scoring in controversial circumstances after four minutesCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Arsene Wenger's Arsenal have now won the FA Cup a record 13 times
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Arsene Wenger's Arsenal have now won the FA Cup a record 13 timesCredit: Action Images Via Reuters

Yet this incredible triumph came against all the odds and answered all those questions as they denied Chelsea the Double.


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This ragtag Wenger team were devastated by injury and on the floor after missing out on the Champions League — but they showed real balls to pull this off.

When Diego Costa cancelled out Alexis Sanchez’s opener it was surely the cue for them to fall apart yet again.

But just 22 SECONDS after kicking off again, FA Cup specialist Aaron Ramsey added another final winner to his collection.

Wenger has coached the Invincibles but this team are the Inconceivables, winners of a game that defied all logic.

Wenger’s rabble had been written off and with good reason too by just looking at the team-sheets.

Picking David Ospina ahead of Petr Cech looked plain bonkers as Wenger’s No 2 had not played for over a month – by the end it looked like a masterstroke.

 Arsene Wenger wrote himself into the history books as he lifted the FA Cup for the seventh time
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Arsene Wenger wrote himself into the history books as he lifted the FA Cup for the seventh timeCredit: Action Images Via Reuters
 Aaron Ramsey headed home on 79 minutes to defeat the Premier League champions
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Aaron Ramsey headed home on 79 minutes to defeat the Premier League championsCredit: Action Images Via Reuters
 Chelsea's Victor Moses was sent off after receiving a second booking for diving
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Chelsea's Victor Moses was sent off after receiving a second booking for divingCredit: Getty Images
 Arsenal produced a fantastic display to upset the odds at Wembley
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Arsenal produced a fantastic display to upset the odds at WembleyCredit: Action Images Via Reuters
 The result ended Antonio Conte's hopes of winning the double with Chelsea
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The result ended Antonio Conte's hopes of winning the double with ChelseaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

In front of him was Per Mertesacker who had not played ALL SEASON, it was the first time in a back-three during his career and he was going toe-to-toe with Costa.

The rest of the back three? There was full-back Nacho Monreal playing out of position and Rob Holding, a £2million signing from Bolton.

It was meant to be a case of how many Chelsea could rack up.

Nobody gave Arsenal a prayer, yet they could have been four goals up by half-time.

 Alexis Sanchez broke the deadlock against Chelsea after just four minutes
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Alexis Sanchez broke the deadlock against Chelsea after just four minutesCredit: Reuters
 But his effort was hotly-disputed as confusion reigned
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But his effort was hotly-disputed as confusion reignedCredit: Action Images Via Reuters
 Alexis Sanchez had blocked N'Golo Kante's clearance to direct the ball back into the box
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Alexis Sanchez had blocked N'Golo Kante's clearance to direct the ball back into the boxCredit: Ruckas
 The Chelsea defence stood still as they appealed for offside
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The Chelsea defence stood still as they appealed for offsideCredit: Ruckas
 Aaron Ramsey was stood in an offside position but did not interfere with play as Sanchez darted through to finish
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Aaron Ramsey was stood in an offside position but did not interfere with play as Sanchez darted through to finishCredit: Ruckas

Somehow it all came together for them and it was a match the Gunners boss could point to when the Wenger out brigade pipe up.

There will probably be planes flying over stadiums again next season, demanding the Frenchman’s head, yet here was the very best of his management on display.

They ripped through Chelsea in the first half but only managed one goal and that actually was thanks to a helping hand from ref Anthony Taylor.

Sanchez has looked disinterested at times this season but his goal after four minutes was all about dogged determination – and a touch of good fortune in the build-up.

It started with him nipping ahead of N’Golo Kante and charging down a clearance, although the Chilean used his hand to nick the ball.

 Chelsea finished with ten men after Victor Moses was booked for diving, his second of the match
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Chelsea finished with ten men after Victor Moses was booked for diving, his second of the match
 Despite no contact from the Arsenal man, Victor Moses threw himself to the ground
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Despite no contact from the Arsenal man, Victor Moses threw himself to the ground
 Arsene Wenger celebrates with the matchwinner Aaron Ramsey
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Arsene Wenger celebrates with the matchwinner Aaron RamseyCredit: Getty Images
 Arsenal goalscorer Alexis Sanchez celebrates with boss Arsene Wenger
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Arsenal goalscorer Alexis Sanchez celebrates with boss Arsene WengerCredit: PA:Press Association

The ball fell in front of Ramsey in an offside position but, as Chelsea defenders stood still, Sanchez took charge and collected his own through-ball.

Ramsey looked like he was interfering with Thibaut Courtois’ sight before Sanchez slotted home and the assistant flagged. But, after a short debate, ref Taylor gave the goal.

They may have been lucky there, but after that Arsenal were a completely different team to what we saw during the season.

The display at West Brom in March was one of the most gutless, spineless performances from a Wenger team. But this was the total opposite.

The passion was seen with Holding crashing into challenges, or Mertesacker pulling off sliding tackles on Costa.

Danny Welbeck was stretching his opponents’ back line, while Sanchez and Mesut Ozil finally looked bang up for it.

For a second it looked like Wenger of 15 years ago, with his blazer off and a spring in his step on the touchline.

But his side were guilty of not putting the match out of Chelsea’s sight before the break.

Gary Cahill was needed to clear off the line when Sanchez split Conte’s backline and Ozil had prodded the ball towards goal.

 A jubilant Theo Walcott celebrates with the FA Cup trophy
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A jubilant Theo Walcott celebrates with the FA Cup trophyCredit: Reuters
 Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez celebrates after winning the FA Cup
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Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez celebrates after winning the FA CupCredit: Reuters
 Arsenal's Santi Cazorla celebrates with the trophy and his team-mates after winning the FA Cup final
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Arsenal's Santi Cazorla celebrates with the trophy and his team-mates after winning the FA Cup finalCredit: Reuters
 Arsenal Olivier Giroud (R) celebrates after Aaron Ramsey fired the Gunners into a 2-1 lead
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Arsenal Olivier Giroud (R) celebrates after Aaron Ramsey fired the Gunners into a 2-1 leadCredit: EPA
 The jubilant Arsenal squad celebrate their triumph with manager Arsene Wenger
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The jubilant Arsenal squad celebrate their triumph with manager Arsene WengerCredit: Getty Images
 The Arsenal celebrations will go look into the night after their victory
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The Arsenal celebrations will go look into the night after their victoryCredit: Reuters

Cesar Azpilicueta also needed to perform a rescue act on another counter-attack that saw Welbeck through on goal.

Welbeck also hit the post with a header, then Ramsey’s follow up saw the ball hit his chest and also cannon off the woodwork.

They were helped by Chelsea looking like a team that won the Premier League two weeks ago and have been partying since.

Costa had their only sniff before the break but Ospina bravely blocked, making Wenger look like a genius again with his stunning keeper selection.

Chelsea had to pick up the pace after the break.

The way they started suggested Conte gave them a rollicking at half-time, which they deserved.

They came out all guns blazing and it was a case Arsenal soaking up the pressure.

Costa sent Victor Moses through and Ospina was at it again, saving superbly when it looked like Chelsea would equalise.

Moses, who was booked for a foul on Welbeck, then got his marching orders to make it a bigger struggle for Chelsea.

 Arsenal ensured they ended the season on a high with victory over Chelsea
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Arsenal ensured they ended the season on a high with victory over ChelseaCredit: Getty Images

The wing-back’s second yellow was for a dive after racing into the box and going over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s tackle.

The leveller came from Costa as Arsenal were within sight of triumph, with Costa sneaking one in off the post after turning Holding.

But Arsenal were not to be denied, with Ramsey adding another winner to his collection after scoring the decider in the 2014 final against Hull.

This time it was a perfect diving header, steering the ball home from Olivier Giroud’s cross.

There was still time for Ospina to pull off another incredible stop to deny Costa, leaping to his left.

It really was Wenger’s day.

 Alexis Sanchez points to the heavens after his opening goal
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Alexis Sanchez points to the heavens after his opening goalCredit: Getty Images
 A minutes silence was impeccably observed for the victims of the Manchester terror attack
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A minutes silence was impeccably observed for the victims of the Manchester terror attackCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 Alexis Sanchez is mobbed by his team-mates after opening the scoring
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Alexis Sanchez is mobbed by his team-mates after opening the scoringCredit: Getty Images
 Diego Costa and his Chelsea colleagues suffered a frustrating afternoon at Wembley
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Diego Costa and his Chelsea colleagues suffered a frustrating afternoon at WembleyCredit: Reuters

Social Says

Dream Team Ratings

ARSENAL: Ospina 7, Holding 6, Mertesacker 7, Monreal 7, Bellerin 6, Ramsey 7, Xhaka 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 6 (Coquelin 82, 6), Ozil 7, Sanchez 7 (Elneny 90+3, 5), Welbeck 7 (Giroud 78, 6)

Subs not used: Perez, Walcott, Iwobi, Cech

CHELSEA: Courtois 6, Azpilicueta 6, David Luiz 6, Cahill 7, Moses 5, Kante 6, Matic 6 (Fabregas 61, 6), Alonso 7, Pedro 7 (Willian 72, 7), Diego Costa 7 (Batshuayi 88, 5), Hazard 7

Subs not used: Begovic, Zouma, Ake, Terry

Referee: Anthony Taylor

DREAM TEAM STAR MAN: Aaron Ramsey

What They Said

Arsenal's Danny Welbeck: "It was a great team performance.

"We stuck in there when it looks like things were against us. You always worry when you are a goal down and it was a game full of surprises.

"The manager is his own man and he makes his own decision and the board will make the right decision so I can't comment on that."

 

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