Sweet, sweet fourteen. A number that has plenty of meaning behind it for Arsenal. Players such as Eddie McGoldrick, Paul Davis, Alan Smith, and Perry Groves all wore it for multiple seasons.
So too did Theo Walcott, in what was an underrated career in North London. But it was the man who he was meant to succeed that truly made it famous.
Thierry Henry’s iconic glide across the pitch, and lethal finishing, brought eternal life to the number. Now club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is staking a claim for his slice of the famous pie.
As Arsenal went 1-0 down inside five-minutes to Chelsea in the FA Cup final courtesy of a Christian Pulisic stunner, many of us undoubtedly felt our hearts sank.
It was not long ago that our Blue rivals across the Thames were the architects of our cup final heartbreak. Baku very much was still fresh in our minds.
As the Gunners grew into proceedings, confidence began to flow. There was a real sense we could get something.
When Aubameyang was put through on goal and brought down in the box by captain Cesar Azpilicueta, it was our current hitman that drew us level from the spot.
Our number 14 struck again, rifling a low effort into Willy Caballero’s left-hand corner. Cool, calm, collected; like he’s done so many times since his arrival from the Ruhr valley.
We were in the ascendency after that, and you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who thought at that point that we would not go on to find another.
Chelsea still had their chances, and there was a sense of providence when Pulisic did his hamstring early in the second-half. Up until that point, we had no answer for the American spark plug.
Frank Lampard’s troops still controlled the lions-share of the ball, but did little with it.
And perhaps it was ironic that it was a player in Hector Bellerín that made the difference as we took the lead in the second half.
Though his overall performance on the day was questioned by some, his contribution for our second goal was vintage.
Picking up the ball in our half of the pitch, Bellerín burst forward past three Chelsea players before the ball made its way to Nicolas Pépé.
The Ivorian settled calmly, and tucked in centrally before laying off to Aubameyang. the Gabonese forward shimmied past Kurt Zouma before cooly dinking over Caballero.
Elation – and his trademark forward flip to celebrate – was all that mattered.
From one fourteen to another; Arsenal truly have found the successor to the King’s throne. The pair of them have now contributed to the legacy of this club in a big way.
Chelsea had bottled it, but we also bossed it. Outside of the opening ten minutes, yesterday was our day. Post-match complaints across social media questioned the performance of match official Anthony Taylor.
Despite that, Lampard in his post-match presser stated that his side had not played in a manner befitting a side looking to lift the trophy.
For this Arsenal side, this achievement was nothing short of a miracle. After bringing in Mikel Arteta in the wake of Unai Emery’s destruction, an FA Cup win was the furthest thing from our minds.
To go on to win silverware in what was our worst league campaign in over two-decades, in Arteta’s first season on the touchline, is magical.
The implications for the rebuild moving forward are vastly improved, too.
There was a large degree of uncertainly surrounding what we could do in the market this summer. With funds available being questioned, qualification into the Europa League is massive. Not just in terms of the ~25m in revenue we will receive, but it’s an important card we can play.
Retaining the services of Aubameyang are now drastically increased. Signing players of the level of Thomas Partey is now very possible.
This is an unquestioned boost for Arteta as well, looking to build on what was an impressive playing career.
Coming from under the managerial wing of Pep Guardiola, silverware success in his first six-months will do wonders for him on a personal and professional level.
This was the perfect keystone to place into the heart of the Arsenal structure. Any doubts KSE, or the club brass, would have had – if any at all – has surely been put to bed. They have their man, and he undoubtedly will be backed.
But what of the fans; how do they feel? Let me show you…Up the Arsenal.
“It’s hard not to feel a sense of ‘we deserve this,’ having endured the worst league season in living memory. Arteta has truly performed nothing short of a miracle to transform a group of players, peppered with doubt, inconsistencies and flaws, into a resolute team. If this is what he can do with the worst case scenario, just imagine what his ideal squad could do.” – Tom (@TheGoonerTalkTV)
“Elation. There really is no other word to describe how I am feeling right now. This is what football is about. It allows us to step outside the problems and anxieties we have in our daily lives. To experience pure bliss from time to time. I know this team is not perfect, and I know that we have a long way to go. Guess what, none of that matters at the moment. Contracts, midfield problems, recurring decisions, eighth place, Özil, papering the cracks; it’s all irrelevant tonight. For me, now, it is time to sit back in awe of this absurd, preposterous, bizarre, and ultimately joyous season. COYG.” – Jon (@305cast)
“This result shows what Arsenal are capable of under Arteta. The club is still hung over, and has remnants of prior regimes still lurking. The effort has not always matched the talent, however, today showed that they will die for their manager.” – Mike (@TheGoonersPod)
“This feels like the most important trophy in the club’s history. This season has been an absolute disaster, and this has arguably flipped it on its head. From the financial aspect, to proving the Arteta doubters wrong, this should lift the side into next season.” – Eoin (@EoinYoung2)
“I knew it back in 2018 when he was on the verge of becoming our new head coach. I knew it when he finally arrived last December. This man is magic! Mikel Arteta is my shepherd, I shall not want. Bow down to the 14-time FA Cup Champions – the Arsenal!” – Dragomir (@Vardarov94)
“What an FA Cup win. In a year that has basically been garbage, what a moment to remember. Arteta and the lads everyone wrote off. Winning a trophy and earning their way into Europe. What an amazing feeling. What a deserved win for the boys who fought through it all.” – Kelly (@kemgooner)
“For Arsenal to bring a little into this dark time means the world to me. To be able to celebrate with my two boys and my daughter will be something I’ll always remember. Things have been so bleak for what seems so long, both in football and in every day life, that just a bit of happiness and hope goes a long way. COYG!!!” – Rob (@rob_parritt)
“It’s a vial win against an opponent that Arsenal would hope to compete with over an entire league season. Arteta should have a clear picture of where the deficiencies in the squad are, but a trophy goes a long way to restoring faith in a team that has underperformed consistently in the last few seasons.” – Dave; a Liverpool supporter (@edgeofcoaching)
“I’ve never gone into an FA Cup final less worried about the actual trophy. This one meant more to me than any one else in the past. From avenging the EL final loss last season, to showing we are well and truly on the right track, and all the financial implications riding on this one game. Our worst season ever ends with the sweetest victory possible.” – Dani (@naphtrax)
“This win breeds a winning mentality and confidence throughout the squad. It also shows the board that Arteta is the real deal, here to win things, and bring the club back to where it deserves to be. Players that are thinking about coming here, and players who are already here, can now see that we are headed in the right direction. They can be a part of – hopefully – a historic near future.” – Rakeem (@Rhykiem_P)
“This trophy win means as much as any big news transfer for the club right now. Aubameyang is probably going to re-up with AFC.” – DJ (@ExpatGoonah)
“Mikel took this team over at a very, very difficult time. The lowest low in over 20-years, and yet somehow managed to win us our 14th FA Cup. money wise, it’s peanuts. Getting into the EL gives up more funding, sure, but in terms of mental gain it could be massive. If this convinces Auba to sign, Ceballos to sign, and the rest of the squad to commit to the project…man, this could be massive for Arsenal. After the 2014 and 2015 FA cup wins, the club somewhat failed to back Wenger and the team. To give that extra push. It doesn’t have to be a 100-million-pound signing or something like that…just give Arteta what he wants and needs to compete. The mentality is right already. We can see that the players are buying into it.” – Aleksi (@Skrufkin)
“Winning this year is more than a 14th trophy. It’s a sign of not just where we are, but where we are headed. Gooners everywhere should be excited about the direction Arteta is taking the squad.” – Jared (@JC_AFC)
“Hmm, what this cup means? Going forwards, it definitely shows how we can use young guns in our squad, and make a team that can produce a lot of talent in all positions in the coming season. It also strengthens the unity of the team with the manager, the trust they have in him, and for what he is trying to build for the future of Arsenal. Great victory.” – Aouney (@GhostOfDiaby)
“The cup showed progress, that Arteta is worth backing, and gives us belief. We are going to get back to where we should be. It also reaffirms the status of Arsenal among the top Premier League clubs winning silverware. Players wanting to win trophies will know they can do that at Arsenal.” – Daniel (@Batchelor1990)
“This is massive for us. It will spread a surge of energy, desire, pride, and most of all, that winning mentality around all facets of the club. It’s clear to see that with these players, Arteta has gotten them to buy into his ideas and vision regarding the culture at the club. He’s made odd but firm decisions, and has been consistent with his messages. All in all, this win is massive and the start of the revival.” – @DaGman84
“For the Club, this FA Cup means European football, a larger transfer budget, a greater possibility of Aubameyang singing a contract extension, and adding another trophy to the cabinet. I said that this game could shape our clubs’ foreseeable future. I believe that with this win, it will do just that, for the better. For the fans, it means so much more. These past few years have been difficult for a fanbase that is used to winning, and being in title contention. We’ve seen the slow erosion of our club from the inside; the rot setting in. But in comes Mikel /Arteta, and with this trophy, I believe the supporters are now fully on board. We see his vision. We’re behind him and the lads 100%. We have belief again. And until next season, WE are THE defending FA Cup Champions! – Tannor (@DaBeardedGooner)