Arsene Wenger trumped Antonio Conte to become the most successful manager in FA Cup history as Arsenal registered a surprise 2-1 victory in a dramatic final against Chelsea.
Wenger is yet to confirm he will still be Arsenal’s manager next season but his seventh FA Cup success, coming against the Premier League champions and strong favourites, will certainly go down as one of his finest.
Here, Press Association Sport takes a closer look at how Wenger outmanoeuvred Conte at Wembley.
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SELECTION
Both managers opted for the 3-4-2-1 formation that has proved so successful in recent weeks, but Wenger gambled by handing Per Mertesacker his first start in almost 13 months. The pick was forced by a number of defensive injuries but Mertesacker was superb, putting in several excellent blocks and showing no sign of rust after so long on the sidelines. Conte went for the resilience of Nemanja Matic over Cesc Fabregas and Pedro was also chosen ahead of Willian in attacking midfield but neither decision paid off. Matic failed to offer enough protection and Pedro was careless in the final third, with both players being replaced in the second half.
TACTICS
Arsenal raced out of the blocks and could have been two up in the opening quarter of an hour. Perhaps Chelsea were complacent here but their midfield pairing of N’Golo Kante and Matic failed to get to grips with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, who drove Arsenal forward with their superior movement and energy. Chelsea have enjoyed so much success this season down the flanks but neither Marcos Alonso nor Victor Moses were able to make much of an impact in the final third. Moses was eventually sent off as Arsenal beat Chelsea at their own game.
CHANGES
Whatever Conte said at half-time, Chelsea certainly improved after the interval but without an equaliser to show for their pressure, Fabregas and Willian were both introduced after an hour. By then though the game was already in Arsenal’s hands and neither were able to make the impact off the bench Conte would have liked. Michy Batshuayi was only brought on in the 88th minute and the Belgian perhaps could have been introduced sooner. Wenger needed to change little during this game but his back three worked a treat again. You only wonder how Arsenal’s season might have turned out differently had he adopted it sooner.
OVERALL
Wenger’s faith in Mertesacker was rewarded and his Arsenal side showed what a force they can be at full pelt. Conte’s Chelsea, for all their excellence this season, never really showed up. The taste of victory may well be sweet enough to make Wenger stick around for another year at least.