After a dismal 2019-20 Premier League season, Arsenal fans were overjoyed after their team secured an important victory over London rivals Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday. The North London club finished eighth in what was a topsy-turvy season for the Gunners, beating the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, but losing to the relegation-threatened Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion.
With four goals in Arsenal’s last two fixtures, skipper Pierre-Emerick was undoubtedly the pick of the bunch, although Chelsea fans will be disappointed with the match officials for their unfair decisions, while ruing the loss of the in-form Cristian Pulisic and Cesar Azpilicueta.
On that note, let’s have a look at the many reactions from Arsenal’s record 14th FA Cup trophy:
Arsenal invincible Ian Wright got the better of former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole after his former team beat the four-time Premier League champions:
Post by Ian Wright (@IanWright0), August 1, 2020
Many former Arsenal players also revelled in Arsenal’s joy:
Congratulations @Arsenal for winning the @FACupFinal For the 14th time #remarkable
Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official), August 1, 2020
Congrats @Arsenal ! Outstanding achievement to win this year’s #FACup Class finish by @Aubameyang7 to get the win after another great team performance
Robin van Persie (@Persie_Official), August 1, 2020
Arsenal’s record signing, Nicolas Pepe’s former club LOSC Lille also joined in the congratulatory messages:
CONGRATS to our ex-Dogues Nicolas Pépé and @Aubameyang7 on winning the #FACupFinal with The #Arsenal #LOSC #ARSCHE #HeadsUpFACupFinal
LOSC Lille EN (@LOSC_EN), August 1, 2020
And so did Kieran Tierney’s former club, and Scottish giants Celtic
Congratulations @kierantierney1 from everyone at #CelticFC #FACupFinal
Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC), August 1, 2020
Praises poured in for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as well, who scripted his team’s turnaround after joining the club midway through the season:
Felicidades @m8arteta!
PepTeam (@PepTeam), August 1, 2020
Mikel Arteta has been in charge of Arsenal for eight months and has won the same amount of major trophies Spurs have in 21 years.
Charles Watts (@charles_watts), August 1, 2020
What an end of the season! Congratulations @mikelarteta and @arsenal and everyone who fought with everything they got! Proud of the effort you guys put and the big result you achieved! Let’s keep working! #coyg #facupwinners #arsenal #arteta
Lorena Bernal (@LoBer99), August 1, 2020
Mikel Arteta arrived in December & he has already beaten Klopp’s Liverpool, Pep’s Manchester City, Ole’s Manchester United, Lampard’s Chelsea & Nuno’s Wolves.
Trust the process.
Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1), August 1, 2020
Mikel Arteta has become the first person in Arsenal’s history to win the FA Cup as club captain & as manager.
2014
afcstuff (@afcstuff), August 1, 2020
2020#afc
Mikel Arteta did all this in just 8 months.
Troll Football (@TrollFootball), August 1, 2020
After securing European football for another season running, Arsenal fans pray that their talismanic forward Aubameyang signs a much-awaited contract extension with the club:
Dear @Aubameyang7, please don’t leave Arsenal. You’re our captain, best player, & a wonderfully positive leader for our club. I think @m8arteta is building something special, but he needs you to drive it. If you stay, you’ll get the fans’ undying love & a statue.
Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan), August 2, 2020
Never, ever leave us. @Aubameyang7.
Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1), August 1, 2020
The performances of stand-in goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez were also much appreciated after the Argentinean had to wait for 10 years to win his first major trophy in Arsenal colours. His emotions were visible during the post-match interviews:
When he was 17, Martínez left his family & moved to England to try help his loved ones out of poverty.
He had to wait almost a decade for his chance, but he never said a word out of place.
Today, he won his first major honour for Arsenal Football Club. An absolute inspiration.
Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1), August 1, 2020
– Signed for Arsenal in 2010
– Six loans spells away
– 14 apps before this season
– Broke into team in June 2020
– Started in FA Cup final victoryAn incredible journey for Emiliano Martínez ❤️ #HeadsUpFACupFinal
Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball), August 1, 2020
Just look how much the FA Cup win means to Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez #facupfinal #bbcfacup
Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD), August 1, 2020
Meanwhile, the Arsenal players had a blast after their much-deserved victory:
#SM20 @Arsenal
Shkodran Mustafi (@MustafiOfficial), August 1, 2020
Lucas Torreira and Emi Martinez celebrating Arsenal’s FA Cup victory with some McDonalds
WorldwideArsenal™ (@WorldwideAFC), August 1, 2020
This man helped me from the first minute I walked in the door! Cannot thank u enough for everything you’ve done for me.. a special man. Grateful for everything. So sad to see u go gonna miss u so much legend. Thank you. Couldn’t have done this without u. Love @ChrisMorgan10 hero.
Kieran Tierney (@kierantierney1), August 1, 2020
My manager !!!!!
Aubameyang P-E (@Aubameyang7), August 1, 2020
C H A M P I O N S
Bukayo Saka (@BukayoSaka87), August 1, 2020
This Kids are Crazy ❤️❤️❤️
Aubameyang P-E (@Aubameyang7), August 1, 2020
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Catherine Ivill