Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
has vowed to stay at the club after seeing his Gunners side end their
nine-year wait for silverware by beating Hull City in the FA Cup final
Hull
stunned the expectant Gunners supporters, astonishingly taking a
two-goal lead within eight minutes, but Wenger's side eventually clicked
into gear, with Aaron Ramsey the eventual hero in extra time.
Wenger
had insisted the result at Wembley would have no bearing on his
decision to stay at the club but confirmed after the victory he would be
remaining at the Emirates.
Going nowhere: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed he will be staying on as manager
Shower time: Lukas Podolski of pours beer over Wenger after their FA Cup win
'I
always said my future doesn't depend on this but I always wanted to
stay,' Wenger told ITV when asked if he was staying before saying, 'Yes,
I will.'
He
added: 'We wanted to make history tonight and win the game and we did
that in both ways - how not to start the Cup final and how to come
back,' Wenger said.
'I think it was a turning point in the life span of this team - to know they can win in that way was really important today.
'It
would have been terrible [to lose] but we came back. I've praised the
spirit of this team and they showed that today. Congratulations to Hull
they played fantastically the whole game.'
Silver service: Wenger lifts the FA Cup much to the delight of his Arsenal players
Match-winner
Aaron Ramsey had trouble keeping his emotions in check after the
thrilling game and admitted he feared the worst when Hull raced into a
two-goal lead.
'I am getting a bit emotional and I am not usually,' the Welsh midfielder said.
'I
get emotional thinking about it. We have conceded early in lots of big
games this season, but we showed great strength of character to come
back and to score the winner is something I have dreamed off.
Match winner: Aaron Ramsey scored the crucial goal which saw Arsenal win the FA Cup
At times in his short career, his promise seemed to be waning and yet this season he has transformed himself into a spell-binding player.
And on Saturday he rescued his club.
Rescued them from the nerve-shredding prospect of a penalty shoot-out; rescued them from another forensic examination of a calamitous defensive display; rescued the reputation of a famous old manager.
As we headed for penalties, 18 minutes into extra-time and as a defiant Hull City believed they might somehow prevail, it was Ramsey who struck for Arsene Wenger’s side.
They've done it! Aaron Ramsey's extra time winner saw Arsenal end their nine-year trophy drought at Wembley
Well that stayed hit! Santi Cazorla bent a wonderful free-kick to half the arrears for Arsene Wenger's side
Just made it! Laurent Koscielny popped up with a 71st minute equaliser for Arsenal
But to Ramsey goes the glory for ending the manager’s nine-year wait for a trophy. Arsenal have a cup; perhaps not the one they would most desire nor in the manner they would have chosen. But a trophy is a trophy and the drought is over.
This grand old final has seen extraordinary starts in its illustrious history, but surely nothing to match this. A team, which has specialised in premature capitulations this season, imploded again under the gaze of the nation.
Within a stunning eight-minute spell, their chance to end that pernicious wait for silverware appeared to be disappearing before they had barely touched the ball.
Stephen Quinn delivered a fourth-minute corner to Tom Huddlestone at the back of the box. His tame shot posed no danger, yet no-one was marking James Chester who simply diverted the ball in from close range. Still, time to make amends. No need to panic.
Yet within four more minutes Arsenal were in disarray. Hull sensed the vulnerability. Quinn attacked down the left and crossed. When Alex Bruce, son of manager Steve, made an inelegant attempt to head it home the ball still almost beat Lukasz Fabianski and rebounded off a post. And there stood Hull captain Curtis Davies, who turned it home before setting off on a run that ended beneath a pile of celebrating team-mates.
On top of the world: Jack Wilshere slides in to celebrate with Ramsey after his 109th minute finish
Piling on: Arsenal's players jumped straight on the Welshman after he clinched the win late on
Scenes! That end of Wembley descended into bedlam the moment Ramsey's strike hit the back of the net
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