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Arsenal FC Defeat Hull City 3-2 In FA Cup Final

By Joseph Williams

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Courtesy Ronnie Macdonald

Arsenal FC managed to defeat Hull City but it was the Tigers that got off to a dream start after playing a nontraditional corner. The ball was sent to the top of the box, and a shot was fired into the mix of players. The shot took a slight deflection off of James Chester, and rolled just past the outstretched arms of Lukasz Fabianski. After only four minutes gone, Hull had taken a 1-0 lead.

Once again it was Hull on the attack with a free kick deep into Arsenal’s half. The Gunners defended well, but couldn’t clear the ball out of their zone. A ball was sent it and headed towards net, which Fabianski saved well, but Curtis Davies, possibly in a offside position, was right there to bang the ball into the back of the net. Just nine minutes played and the underdogs were already up 2-0.

Arsenal began their fight back in the 17th minute, when Hull started to play a more physical style, and gave away a free kick from a dangerous position. After a bit of discussion, it was Santi Cazorla who stepped up, and did he take it well, getting the right angle to beat Alan McGregor. Arsenal pulled one back, and finally showed some life, much to the delight of their supporters.

After the goal, many would think that Arsenal would take the momentum to go on and score another, but Hull continued to battle. The Gunners did look more promising as the half went on, but couldn’t break down the Hull defense. The Tigers on the other hand, played well, and even saw a couple more half chances that kept Arsenal on their toes. With the score at halftime being 2-1, the second half was sure to be a good one.

The second half began the same as the first half ended. Arsenal putting pressure on Hull, but Hull never backed down, and continued to try to rattle the opposition. The gunners seemed to be on the unfortunate end of the referee’s decisions, after shouts for a handball and a penalty were both turned away.

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As the clock continued to tick down, Arsenal continued to ramp up their pressure. Once again Cazorla was involved in the goal, as he played in a great ball that took a slight deflection and fell to Laurent Koscielny. The defender did the rest, and equalized in the 71st minute, sending the Arsenal fans into raptures. The game was now 2-2, with the next goal surely being the winner.

Just minutes later, it was Kieran Gibbs who would’ve made himself a potential hero scoring the go ahead goal. With the keeper exposed, Gibbs hit a shot from roughly eight yards out over the crossbar.

Both teams showed signs of tiredness at the end of the half, and after full-time, the game was still deadlocked and two all which meant there would need to be extra time.

With the Hull defense wilting early in extra time, Arsenal tried to pounce right away. In the 93rd minute Olivier Giroud had an excellent chance with a header on the far post, but his effort agonizingly bounced off the crossbar. Arsenal looked the better side, but still couldn’t breakthrough in the first period of extra time.

Finally the Gunners would find the precious goal that they wanted. Aaron Ramsey found himself unmarked inside the box after some good passing movement. McGregor was caught wrong footed, and could only watch as the ball hit the back of the net. Arsenal now lead 3-2 and only had to hang on for 10 more minutes.

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    • Hull nearly evened it again in the 114th minute, after Fabianski was forced to come out of his box. The goal was exposed, but Hull couldn’t capitalize, watching the ball roll down the goal line and out of play.

    As the final whistle blew, Arsenal fans could celebrate knowing their nearly decade long trophy drought had been ended. Coming from two goals down only made the victory that much sweeter for the gunners. It will be Arsene Wenger’s fifth FA Cup, and the clubs 11th, joint for first place all time. Hull gave it all they had, but just didn’t have enough depth in their squad to outlast Arsenal.

    After years of disappointment, the Arsenal faithful now have something to celebrate.

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