Still got it! Arsene Wenger's plan pays off as Arsenal beat Hull to lift FA Cup

AS gambles go, it was a bold one.

  arsene wengerArsene Wenger had some tough decisions to make during his side's FA Cup win over Hull[GETTY]

Arsene Wenger did not want the match to go to penalties and so made a double substitution with 15 minutes of extra-time remaining; off came Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil, on came Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky.

The outcome? A parade through the streets of Islington yesterday as Arsenal won their first trophy in nine years, a victory from a match that looked to be heading to penalties but in the end not needing them.

Ironically, Arsenal had won seven of their previous eight penalty shoot-outs, but this time Wenger did not fancy chancing his arm on another. He had made the change, and how it worked.

"I had a funny feeling not to go to penalties," said Wenger. "I tried desperately for it not to go to penalties because I didn't have many players on the pitch who were specialists.

"It paid off, but we had a horrible feeling in the game for a long time. But in this job, it's how the game finishes. The rest, nobody cares about.

"It was bold taking off those two, especially Cazorla. I would not have put Ozil on the penalty list, but Cazorla is a serious penalty taker and that's why I was hesitant.

"The other problem I had was Gibbs's hamstring. Before the end of the game he had a hamstring problem and we had to wait as long as possible.

"I was worried by the decision I was making because I already had two strikers on the pitch. Jack is not a penalty taker. Rosicky isn't a penalty taker. Giroud had cramp."

Wilshere: I felt sick watching [AMBIENT]

In this job, it's how the game finishes. The rest, nobody cares about

Arsene Wenger

The fresh legs of the Arsenal duo overwhelmed the exhausted Hull players and Aaron Ramsey supplied the clinical finish to win the FA Cup.

It was a thrilling end to a pulsating final, the best in years, with Hull storming into a two-goal lead inside eight minutes with goals from James Chester and Curtis Davies.

Cazorla pulled one back before half-time, arrowing a free-kick past Allan McGregor and Laurent Koscielny took the game into extra-time, scrambling the ball home from five yards out in the 71st minute.

Nerves strung, Wenger made his move.

Wilshere found the opening in the 109th minute, with a through ball to Yaya Sanogo. He fed Olivier Giroud whose clever backheel teed up Ramsey.

The Welshman cracked in his 16th and most important goal of the season.

And so after 3,283 days and 512 games Arsenal touch silverware again. And they won the Cup without leaving the capital - the first time that has happened since 1950 when Arsenal also triumphed.

Arsenal won it without playing well; they had 25 shots but only seven of them on target.

 jack wilshereJack Wilshere made a big impact from the bench [GETTY]

Podolski and Ozil were peripheral figures. Ramsey's shooting was woeful until his big moment arrived, when he showed his coolness in front of goal. Giroud looked ponderous and predictable. Koscielny was regularly outfoxed by Matty Fryatt. Only Cazorla reached the level that this talented team are capable of.

But what they showed in spades was grit and a sheer desire not to lose and as Hull tired they simply got stronger. They are trademarks that Wenger has hailed all season and one of the reasons that has convinced him to stay on the Emirates.

The big question for Arsenal fans now is, does this herald the start of a bright new era with their team genuinely able to compete for trophies?

Or, more of the same - top four finishes, without really frightening the big boys?

The fact that they went into this game as red-hot favourites but again buckled inside 10 minutes and shipped two goals from set pieces should provide the note of caution.

But as thousands of Gooners lined the streets of Islington yesterday to cheer their heroes on their open-top bus parade, this was a day that they could finally celebrate with pride.

 mesut ozilMesut Ozil was thrilled to win a trophy in his first season with the Gunners [GETTY]

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