10 conclusions from Arsenal’s Cup win

Arsene Wenger’s beleaguered troops upset the applecart when they beat Chelsea 2-1 to win the FA Cup last Saturday. The intensity in Arsenal’s play as they clinched a record 13th triumph caught many a pundit by surprise. Here are the top ten conclusions from Arsenal’s win.

1- Never listen to pundits.
Football’s cognoscenti were falling over themselves to tip Premier League champions Chelsea for victory. Their projections were understandably based on the two teams’ recent head to head record, as well as an injury list that left the Gunners back four depleted. How wrong they all were. Arsenal showed up and won convincingly.

2- Gap between top six minimal.
That an Arsenal team bereft of skipper Laurent Koscielny, Skhordan Mustafi and Gabriel Paulista so comprehensively outplayed Chelsea, a team that finished 18 points, and four positions ahead of them in the Premiership, underlines how close the top six are in terms of quality.

3- Never too late to learn.
How ironical it is that Arsenal won the Cup by mirroring Chelsea’s 3-4-3 formation and executing it better. The North Londoners did this by placing a more or less midfielder in front of the back three (which Chelsea doesn’t do) and man marking danger man Eden Hazard.

4- Preps are everything.
While Chelsea were celebrating their momentous title triumph, Arsenal went to work. Hector Bellerin and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain out duelled Chelsea wing-backs Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses, while Granit Xhaka had Nemanja Matic in his pocket. Winning these three key confrontations settled the tie.

5- FA Cup is serious silverware.
All Arsenal fans that had been baying for Wenger’s blood before the final were so numbed by their display, none commented. Thus, for all their EPL and Champions League failings, record FA Cup winner Arsene Wenger is in a very strong position to renew his contract on his own terms.
6- Chelsea a work in progress.
Don’t be fooled by Chelsea’s league points tally, the West Londoners are not yet the finished article. Antonio Conte must continue to chop and change. Replacements will be needed for John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, John Obi Mikel, Oscar, Ramirez and Mohammed Salah. Chelsea are five world class players short of being impregnable.

7- Arsenal must keep Sanchez.
Alexis Sanchez isn’t just Arsenal’s best player, he’s probably the best in England. Unlike Mesut Ozil, who was monumental in the final, but chooses his games, Sanchez delivers, week in week out. His stats for goals, assists and dribbles plus runs mean it’s an absolute must for Arsenal to keep him for next season’s rebuilding work.
8- Chelsea need variety.
For all their success this season, Arsenal and Manchester United at Old Trafford, showed that if you man mark Eden Hazard, Chelsea’s attack is stifled. They must find ways of breaking down opposition defenses beyond expansive wing play and Hazard’s dribbling.

9- Ospina better Cup keeper.
If Colombia’s number one decides to go to Turkey as is being speculated, it will be a major climb down. He is much better than that. At PSG in the Champions League and last Saturday, he proved he has the nerve for the big occasion. I hope he stays.

10- Cesc Fabregas still tops.
Fabregas is another player I would like to see in England next season. For all Nemanja Matic’s perspiration, it’s Fabregas who often provides the cutting edge for Chelsea. The outcome could have been different if he had started. You can’t argue with this assists king.