FA Cup Final: Arsenal Seek First Silverware in Nine Years against Hull City

With the English Premier League concluded last Sunday, attention will this weekend be focused on the world’s oldest competition-English FA Cup. The stakes are always high for an FA Cup final, but when Arsenal face Hull City, they may be even higher. Arsenal will now have a chance to win their first silverware since 2005 FA Cup final when they defeated Manchester United on penalties nine years ago
For Arsenal, the chance to break a trophy-less streak dating back to their 2005 FA Cup victory over Manchester United is a huge opportunity. The lack of silverware over the years has come to define this portion of Arsene Wenger’s tenure as manager and has left the proud Gunners a bit red in the face.
Hull City will be playing in the FA Cup final for the first time in the history of the club, meaning the team has an opportunity to earn a bit of silverware that generally stays well beyond their grasp.
This year, the FA Cup final has been given its own date on the schedule, a week after the Premier League season concludes. It has all the makings of a very memorable date for one of these two sides.
Arsenal survived by the skin of their teeth, ultimately beating Wigan in penalties, 4-2, in a game that ended after 120 minutes even at a goal apiece. Surely, the game was a whirlwind of emotions for Per Mertesacker, who was the main culprit in Wigan’s first goal, as he committed a foul in the box that set up Jordi Gomez’s go-ahead tally from the spot after an hour. But the tall German redeemed himself, equalising in the 82nd minute.
However, things were a bit more relaxed for Hull City. Though they twice found themselves trailing Sheffield United and went into the half down 2-1, they exploded in the second half and went on to win, 5-3.
Both of these teams will likely be relieved this game comes after the Premier League season ends. The Gunners are embroiled in a top-four battle.
Waiting a month to play the final will also help Arsenal return to health in time to end their trophy drought. Aaron Ramsey has just returned to fitness, and the Gunners will also have Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere and Laurent Koscielny ready to go.
Arsenal won the first meeting between these two teams, 2-0 on December 4, but the North London have been heavily favored in an FA Cup final before and disappointed. After all, the Gunners were supposed to brush aside Birmingham City in the 2011 final of this tournament. Instead, they lost 2-1.
The fact that Arsenal should have all hands on deck, barring any other injuries until the game is played is huge for them. The concern, of course, is that the weight of the trophy drought will weigh heavily on their shoulders. They’ll hope relative newcomers like Ozil or Santi Cazorla don’t feel the pressure so acutely and lead the Gunners to victory.
Hull City will give them a game, but the talent disparity in this contest is pretty wide. And if Arsenal are as lethargic and tentative as they often were against Wigan, Hull will probably earn the upset. But it’s time for the trophy drought is expected to end.



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