FA Cup win rejuvenates Arsenal

At 5.15pm on Saturday, the mood amongst Arsenal supporters worldwide was at one of the lowest points of the season at the end of extra time the mood had changed from agony to ecstasy and this came as a result of an amazing 3-2 comeback win against Hull City in the FA Cup Final. 

It has been a season of what if's for the Gunners this season, firstly asking what if Luis Suarez who ended up the league's top scorer and PFA Player of the year had signed for Arsenal or what if Gonzalo Higuain had become an Arsenal player and what could have become if Theo Walcott and more crucially Aaron Ramsey stayed fit all season, Aaron Ramsey ended the campaign with 18 goals from Midfield including the vital winner in extra time at Wembley. 

Now on to the main event the FA Cup Final, a lot of Arsenal fans were very confident going into the final, thinking we had already won the FA Cup in the bag even before the Semi-final against Wigan, whilst other Arsenal fans (like myself) were a lot more cautious going into the game. As the game started, our worst fears came true a couple of set pieces found their way into the back of the net and Hull were 2-0 up within the first 8 minutes.

The game had two key turning points within the first half, Kieron Gibbs clearing Alex Bruce's goal bound header of the line and then Santi Cazorla finding the back of the net with the superb free-kick, the goal seemed to instil belief not only for the Arsenal fans in Wembley but for the 20,000 fans attending a screening at the clubs Emirates Stadium home. 

The second half started as the first half ended with more Arsenal pressure with the nerves of Arsenal fans growing bigger by the minute, with several penalty shouts denied by the referee, who even with a biased opinion had an awful game, the moment finally came when the Gunners got a slice of luck when Yaya Sanogo's back heel was adjudged to have touched a Hull player, from there Sagna flicked on the set-piece and Laurent Koscielny hit a smart finish underneath Allan Mcgregor who slid down Koscielny in the process, tension and troubles turned into serious relief in this moment. 

Arsene Wenger has had his share of criticism over the last 9 years, some justified others completely not neccesary but for me yesterday he got his substitutions spot on, in the first half Olivier Giroud was not able to fully dominate and control Hull's defensive trio, I thought the introduction of Yaya Sanogo and the change to a 4-4-2 formation served to help Arsenal control the front line a lot better, A lot of Arsenal fans (me included) moan about some facets of Sanogo's game but he brings a physical presence that Olivier Giroud does not have and he wore the Hull defence down well which helped Arsenal create more clear cut chances later on in the game. 

Wenger also introduced the midfield duo of Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere at the start of the second period of extra time for Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla, the introduction of the two classy midfielders enhanced the quality and sharpness of Arsenal's passing and that passing finally paid off with one of those goals you will see on those FA Cup montages, the ball was fed into Olivier Giroud who flicked a lovely back heel into the path of Aaron Ramsey who flicked it into the back of the net, the Arsenal fans erupted inside the Emirates and Wembley and when the final whistle sounded 9 years of pain and agony melted away, Arsenal fans had united in passion and pride to celebrate the winning of the FA Cup.

The FA Cup should be a springboard for the club to go on to achieve and it looks as if Arsene Wenger is going to continue his reign as Arsenal manager, for me realistic aims are to challenge for the Premier League title look for progress in the Champions League and further success in domestic cup competitions, Arsene is not the only person who should be needs to use the FA Cup as a springboard, some of the fans and the club around the Emirates Stadium are important for Arsenal's rejuvenation, our away support is always amazing, the fans have energised the players with their vocal support, the Emirates on the other hand has not been such a wall of noise and this is not aimed at passionate Arsenal fans, this is aimed at the people who keep silent for the majority of the game and leave because they do not want to catch traffic, we need the support of every single person in the ground and not just a few sections of passionate fans. The club and especially stewards have to also take responsibility, they are always harassing sections of fans to sit down during games fans who have been getting behind the team should not be discouraged from supporting their club, quite the opposite a singing section should be created to encourage a better atmosphere at the stadium. 

The FA Cup run should serve to show the club that on our day, Arsenal can beat any club in England, the main talking point is the strength in squad depth, a back-up keeper is needed with Fabianski leaving and Viviano's future unclear, Bacary Sagna's contract is up this summer and a move away from the Emirates would leave a big hole at right back, I for one do not think Carl Jenkinson is developed enough to be a Premier League starting right-back, a holding midfielder is another position where I feel a new signing is needed someone who can control the game and stop the oppositions creative forces, I felt that this was missing during big losses to Liverpool and Chelsea, Mikel Arteta's contract is up next summer and one feels this may be his last year at the club as Arsene Wenger will probably look for a younger replacement. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's continued growth in the centre of the midfielder may serve as a catalyst to signing a new winger, Julian Draxler and Mario Gotze are names being discussed as potential transfer targets and what every Arsenal fan is screaming at the computer for me to mention is a world-class striker, Olivier Giroud has had a great season but he lacks that clinical edge and touch of genius that a Thierry Henry or a Dennis Bergkamp had, a world class striker to play alongside or instead of Giroud would make our attack even more formidable and potent.

Final point for football fans of League football over the summer: Don't worry there is the World Cup and for fellow Gooners savour the moment, cherish it and hopefully we will be lifting more trophies in the near future.