By Walter Broeckx
Finally back home after an amazing weekend in London.
I will write a complete match report later on of course but first let me give you a few short thoughts that passed my mind before, during and after the match.
I was in the Emirates with some friends from Arsenal Belgium so the result itself was never in doubt one could say. However I must admit that shortly before the match started I called upon the football gods to not let me down. In fact I called for the Arsenal players to not let me down. I called in a thelepatic way to them and said that this was their moment to enter the Arsenal and FA cup history for ever.
And my oh my did they perform on the day! That was an amazing performance. The best ever seen.
I must admit that I was impressed with the way we played but got a bit annoyed by the fact that we just couldn’t score that first goal earlier on. I think if we had scored from one of the earlier chances we would have had a score that would have been unseen in this era. Mind you 4-0 is almost such a score in a final.
But once Theo put in the first goal I knew it would be okay. What a great goal it was. Starting the attack himself, the perfect pass to Monreal who gave a good cross. Alexis 1 cm smaller than Messi (!!!!!!!!!) won the header and Theo finished it off with a amazing left footed volley. The Emirates erupted! Where I sat in the lower tier under the roof of club level the noice level was so high my ears almost gave way.
And when Alexis scored the second goal the final outcome was completely known. No way we would let this slip away. Per and Giroud adding a third and a fourth was more icing on the cake.
I have never seen an Arsenal team so dominant in a final. All 11 players were heroes! Correcction all 14 players were heroes!!
But the biggest hero was for me the manager. We have defended him always against all the criticism he got. We have said that the great days would return if we just would stick to him and support him. In the last 12 months Arsenal and Wenger now have won three trophies.
Yes: three! Two FA cups and the Charity Shield. That is a trophy. The smallest one but it is a trophy. Period. FACT!
Now Arsenal is the most succesful club in the FA cup history. And I was in London to celebrate this with thousands of Gooners in the Emirates and in the Streets if Islington. I feel honoured to have been there this weekend and to have been able to join in the wild celebrations in the Emirates and outside in the streets.
Wenger is the best manager in FA cup history. A thing he has to share with that Mr. Ramsay. But it won’t be for long. I suggest that next year we make sure he gets 7 wins and that he is the most successful manager in FA cup history all by himself. Deal? Deal! Players you know what to do!
And then to think that Wenger was accused of not taking the FA Cup serious a few years ago! Idiots!
Let me finish with two pictures that say more than I can say in a way.
This was to be seen everywhere around the Emirates and on the parade bus. It is saying it all! No equals. We are the best. Simply the best! Not bad for a manager who had lost it they said as six of those 12 wins have been won under his leadership!
And this picture:
When I saw that I knew it was a message to us. Yes it was a message to Untold. Because the writers but more importantly our loyal readers who have been that 12th man. Each and every day in our existence as blog.
And I say to you Mr. Gazidis (who personally promised me that the trophies would come on 11 December 2012 check that date and I say to you Mr. Wenger that it has been an honour and a privilege to have been that 12th man all those barren years.
It has been painful at some moments because we don’t like to lose but we knew that there was a bigger goal than just the last result. And we kept our believe and we kept the faith.
A writer of Untold admitted to me last Saturday after the match that he had tears in his eyes. I have had tears in my eyes this weekend on more than one occasion. Tears of joy and tears for finally seeing the arrival of a new era.
Sure we will lose matches. But I would urge the moaners that in such moments they try to look at the bigger picture and not just the bad result on the day.
This team can be destined for great things in the next seasons. Just get behind the team completely. Just get behind the manager even if you think you can do a better job than him (how ridiculous…)
Just BE THAT 12th MAN our club, managers and most and for all our players need. The reward can be immense. If only you are willing to open yourself to it. Believe me it is worth the effort.
COYG! And Thanks!
More pictures and maybe even videos are to follow about this great weekend in London.
Details of just how historic our achievement has been in the Cup this year are given in our weekend article from the Arsenal History Society site.
——————
And one from the Archives
1 June 2007: Gilberto Silva captained Brazil against England, becoming the first and thus far the only Arsenal player ever to captain Brazil. In the last minute of the game Gilberto Silva provided the cross that allowed Brazil to score to make it 1-1.
Top stuff Walter!
The moaners are still out in force on some other sites. Quite extraordinary. Such a total lack of joy and positivity in their hearts.
Indeed, the hero is Wenger. Compare how he trained and used Walcott to play the CF position against WBA and in the FA cup final with how he played the position when Roy Hodgson tried him there for England.
There is hardly any player he takes under his wings that he doesn’t dramatically improve. In this year alone: Bellerin, Coq, Wilshere, Ozil and Walcott added new dimensions to their games, playing not to what was previously expected but to their greater potentials both as players as well as members of a well coached team.
I am happy to have been a member of the untold motley of Wenger supporters as Arsenal’s coach – looking forward to greater heights of achievement for the club, under Wenger.
Now Walter, did you want to mean Wembley instead of Emirates?1 Still basking in the glory though, hoping Theo signs. Still also rooting for Isaac Hayden to make it. I have a feeling if we manage better, the squad we have, we can easily win the EPL next season without adding a single soul. Would be great, that!
Glad you had a beautiful weekend, Walter.
Me too.
Thank you Arsenal.
Walter,
What happens on occasions like this at the Emirates. Can you sit anywhere? Or are the tickets allocated as for match-days?
And is there catering? I mean,could you buy one of Tony’s appalling meat pies?
With a cappuccino of course. 😉
Pete
Which of the “other sites” are the moaners out in force on?
I’ve read quite a few since Saturday and they’re all very positive.
Of course you get the usual idiots in the comments leading off, but that happens on even the best of blogs.
As expected Jack has taken over from Blatter in the hate headlines, and a wonderful picture of him with best mate Danny.
Tailgunner – the comments sections of the Online Gooner and Le Grove have plenty of negativity. Damning with faint praise being the most common meme.
It is clear that most other managers buys players that are already stars and flings them into a pot with the squad players to see what comes out.
Arsene Wenger buys players as an integral part of a team, he files on them, he plays them in strange positions all to let them get a feeling for how their fellow players need to play, which betters them at their own position, AND to be able to be used in case of injuries. He may wait 2 or even 3 seasons to get a certain player or type of player if needed.
I think we probably have the most multi position players in the PL?
Nicky,
I will answer your questions in another article I will write about this wonderful weekend.
Pete
That’s what I was referring to. I didn’t read Online Gooner, but thought Le Grove did a good celebratory article, but you can’t do anything about the commenters even on a glory day the usual haters will still be there.
Online Gooner wasn’t too bad an article, although a little superior.
I am just astonished that anyone at all who claims to support the club can be anything other than full of joy after, not just the win, but also the sensational performance. Just don’t get it.
At least Arsenal “Truth” hasn’t posted yet. Worryingly, he seems to be showing signs of breaking his self-imposed exile. The guy is off the scale in terms of miserableness.
Pete: they are not supporters, not much to get really…
Where is my 1st comment?
I posted it before the comment above with a wonderful link too!
I can’t post it again so must have gone thru, is it being checked out first?
Pete
I doubt that you’ll see much in the way of negative comments here for a while, but It’s not a bad thing to read the other blogs. Is Myles still around? Haven’t heard from him in ages.
Good morning and happy day(s) to all Untolders, all the Gunners and all the Gooners. But for 2 starting and substitute Gunners, I would have gotten the Boss FA Cup final starts and bench. I missed them as he started Ramsey instead Wilshere whom I started in my starts. And the Boss had Oxlade Chamberlain on his bench instead of Debuchy who I had on my bench. Save for those 2, I would have had a perfect starts and bench matching up with that of the Boss. Had the Boss started Wilshere at that right wing instead of Ramsey, I believe the Gunners would have scored earlier than the time they took the lead. That said. I have thought the Gunners will also put on parade the Charity Sheild they won on the first day of last season when they beat Man City at Wembley. Why didn’t they do that? That would have added more colour to the occasion of the parade. I think it is a mistake by Arsenal to have overlooked or neglected to put on parade the official silverware they have won. Going by their statements, it appears some Gunners have started gearing up to win the title next season. Good and fine if they will achieve that feast. But the Gunners should know that they would need to diligently work for that ambition to make it become a reality when the time comes to do that work. The Premier League title has been won in the last past years by mainly Sir Alex’s Man Utd and recently by Man City until Chelsea undo the duo this season. The Premeir League title will not be at the backyard of the Gunners to pick it up. They would need to seriously look for it during the campaign and when they see it, they should not allow it out of their sight. What I am saying is, whenever the Gunners got to the top of the table next season, they should remain there till the end. The Gunners fell behind Chelsea in the table last season by 4 games which translated to 12 points with Chelsea scoring 108 goals and Arsenal too scoring 108 goals all in all competitions. I hope I am correct? If am correct or nearly correct. Why didn’t Arsenal then win the title? Is it because they have lost too many games which translated to conceding too many goals that led to so many defeats? I should think so. On the other wise, Arsenal will need to score at least 120-125 to win the big quadrupled of the League Cup, the BPL title, the FA Cup again and the UCL. However, The the boss will have to work on Arsenal defending as a team next season to enhance the possibility of the Gunners picking up those titles. And I think that defending capability has been enhanced in the later part of their last season with the introduction of the midfield enforcer – Francis Coquelin due to the injury sustained by the resident enforcer – Arteta. Arsenal midfield enforcement can still be enhanced by 1 internal or external addition to that department. The Gunners left back is suspect. The Boss should remove the suspicion that is in that area to enhance that position. The present Arsenal attacking midfielders should be okay for next season campaign. Walcott and Welbeck want to play centrally as strikers for Arsenal. That will make them 3 in numbers with Olivier Giroud. The Boss should allow them all to play centrally. The problem of one benching the others should not arise as the boss can efficiently be rotating them to forestall or minimize any injuries and fatigue happening to them. Jack Wilshere could hold down the right wing position but with a new top right winger added to that position for option and rotation. Sanchez has proved to be so dependable and reliable goal scoring machine and injury free. So, the Boss may not sign a new left winger. But who will efficiently manned the position when Sanchez will not be available for the first few games of the season? This can be dangerous as no points should be dropped by the Gunners. The boss must successfully solved that problem. I think the Gunners should be done with a top new left back, a top new enforcer and a top new right winger in the summer in my own view with Ramsey been allowed to play from his preferred attacking midfield position to compete or takeover from Cazorla. Less I forget, the Gunners should endeavour to win the Emirates Cup for the first time in their pre-season friendly games at the Emirates Stadium. And they MUST for the first time beat a Jose Mourinho’s manage Chelsea team to the Charity Shield in August when the season opens.
The News is full of Jack singing anti Tot songs. Where the Fcuk do these media cretins sit when they come to matches? Arsenal fans sing anti Tottenham songs every match – several times.
This is what they want:
What do you think of Tottenham?
Sugar
What do you think is Sugar?
Tottenham
We love —no I cant even type that!!! We hate Tottenham and we think the’re SHIT!!!
End of!!
Good morning and happy day(s) to all Untolders, all the Gunners and all the Gooners. But for 2 starting and substitute Gunners, I would have gotten the Boss FA Cup final starts and bench. I missed 2 of them as he started Ramsey instead Wilshere whom I started in my starts. And the Boss had Oxlade Chamberlain on his bench instead of Debuchy who I had on my bench. Save for those 2, I would have had a perfect starts and bench which would have matched up with that of the Boss. Had the Boss started Wilshere at that right wing instead of Ramsey, I believe the Gunners would have scored earlier than the time they took the lead. That said. I have thought the Gunners will also put on parade the Charity Sheild they won on the first day of last season when they beat Man City at Wembley. Why didn’t they do that? That would have added more colour to the occasion of the parade. I think it is a mistake by Arsenal to have overlooked or neglected to put on parade the official silverware they have won. Going by their statements, it appears some Gunners have started gearing up to win the title next season. Good and fine if they will achieve that feast. But the Gunners should know that they would need to diligently work for that ambition to make it become a reality when the time comes to do that work. The Premier League title has been won in the last past years by mainly Sir Alex’s Man Utd and recently by Man City until Chelsea undo the duo this season. The Premeir League title will not be at the backyard of the Gunners to pick it up. They would need to seriously look for it during the campaign and when they see it, they should not allow it out of their sight. What I am saying is, whenever the Gunners get to the top of the table next season, they should remain there till the end. The Gunners fell behind Chelsea in the table last season by 4 games which translated to 12 points with Chelsea scoring 108 goals and Arsenal too scoring 108 goals all in all competitions. I hope I am correct? If am correct or nearly correct. Why didn’t Arsenal then win the title? Is it because they have lost too many games which translated to conceding too many goals that led to so many defeats? I should think so. On the other wise, Arsenal will need to score at least 120-125 to win the big quadruple of the League Cup, the BPL title, the FA Cup again and the UCL. However, the boss will have to work on Arsenal defending as a team next season to enhance the possibility of the Gunners picking up those titles. And I think that defending capability has been enhanced in the later part of their last season with the introduction of the midfield enforcer – Francis Coquelin due to the injury sustained by the resident enforcer – Arteta. Arsenal midfield enforcement can still be enhanced by 1 internal or external addition to that department. The Gunners left back is suspect. The Boss should remove the suspicion that is in that area to enhance that position. The present Arsenal attacking midfielders should be okay for next season campaign. Walcott and Welbeck want to play centrally as strikers for Arsenal. That will make them 3 in numbers with Olivier Giroud. The Boss should allow them all to play centrally. The problem of one benching the others should not arise as the boss can efficiently be rotating them to forestall or minimize any injuries and fatigue happening to them. Jack Wilshere could hold down the right wing position but with a new top right winger added to that position for option and rotation. Sanchez has proved to be so dependable and reliable goal scoring machine and injury free. So, the Boss may not sign a new left winger. But who will efficiently manned the position when Sanchez will not be available for the first few games of the season? This can be dangerous as no points should be dropped by the Gunners. The boss must successfully solved that problem. I think the Gunners should be done with a top new left back, a top new enforcer and a top new right winger in the summer in my own view, with Ramsey been allowed to play from his preferred attacking midfield position to compete or takeover from Cazorla. Less I forget, the Gunners should endeavour to win the Emirates Cup for the first time in their pre-season friendly games at the Emirates Stadium. And they MUST for the first time beat a Jose Mourinho’s manage Chelsea team to the Charity Shield in August when the season opens.
Menace,
I think during the screening we had the what do you think of totnum shout a dozen times and we stood up during the match on more than one occasion. It’s part of what we are in a way.
A parade without Jack shouting it is no parade 😉
Great article Walter and a nice follow up to a superb weekend, a superbly exciting team performance and a magnificent win.
Very pleased you enjoyed the whole weekend – you very much deserve it after all the work you have put in!!
Great write up Walter.
Cheers and tears in equal measures in the Jambug household as well.
What a day, what a team, what a manager…..what a man !!
Myles is still around on ANR. He is becoming more balanced as Arsenal improve, but… I’m sure there was some perceived snub by Wenger against him at some point.
https://www.facebook.com/footballdaily/videos/955408554516552/?fref=nf
eat that you Wenger haters
Thanks for being there Walter , to represent UA and the crazy , zany and unrepentant loonies called the Awesome AKBs .
You being there was 3 goals to the good ! No butterflies , no fear , just being laid back and enjoying the show .
And the wine helped somewhat !
WOO HOO , HOO !
Up the Gunners !
What a weekend. Didn’t want the match to end. Onwards and upwards to the top of the table.
A weekend loaded for me too, two days of celebration and a Monday where work picked up only in the second part of the day. Thank you Walter for the top material, and to Untold for keeping the flag up all these years. The day will come when we are Premier League champions again. As for now, from now on, welcome to the Arsenal Cup! 😉
Walter,
All Untolders (if you will) are happy you and your fellow Belgian Gooners were able to have the experience at the Emirates. And I hope the incredible performance of the team is a bit of a thank you for all the hard work you do on our behalf. I always look forward to your match reports and a report from the Emirates on a Cup Final day helps those of us who weren’t there share in the experience. So enjoy the memory and let’s do it again next year! COYG
Appreciation to my father who shared with me
regarding this blog, this webpage is genuinely amazing.