Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang secured a 14th FA Cup on Saturday that extended the record for Arsenal, scoring twice in a 2-1 victory against Chelsea at an empty Wembley stadium.
Christian Pulisic had become the first American to score in an FA Cup final, but his first five-minute goal was canceled by Aubameyang’s penalty in the 28th minute after being dragged by Chelsea captain César Azpilicueta.
A year after this longer English season and interrupted by the pandemic, Azpilicueta limped, wounded by tears before halftime. Pulisic only lasted a minute after the break before stopping with an apparent hamstring injury.
With Chelsea uneasy about the injury, Arsenal took control and Aubameyang brought down goalkeeper Willy Caballero from close range in 67.
He not only sealed Arsenal’s fourth FA Cup in seven seasons but also a place in the Europa League as he only finished eighth in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s hopes of forcing the game into overtime were shattered when Mateo Kovacic received a second yellow card in the 73rd after gently catching Granit Xhaka. Chelsea finished with nine men in the halting time when Pedro was forced to leave with a shoulder injury.
Frank Lampard can still complete his first season as Chelsea manager by lifting a trophy but would require the West London club to knock down a 3-0 deficit against Bayern Munich in the Champions League for the first time on Saturday 16.
But only in his 28th game in charge of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta won the FA Cup, just as he did as a player in 2014 and 2015.
“It was very faith bringing me here and rebuilding something special,” said Arteta, who replaced Unai Emery in December. “Let’s hope we make the fans proud”
The restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic meant that this 90,000-capacity stadium had no fans.
There couldn’t even be a trophy presentation as usual in the Royal Box due to the social distancing after this 139th FA Cup final. Players had to get their own medals before Captain Aubameyang picked up the cup on the field.
“I saw him walking with the bottom attached,” said Arsenal defender Rob Holding, “and I thought, ‘You need to take that off!'”
A competition that started on August 9, 2019, with teams from the ninth and tenth levels, ended later than it had before, two months after the scheduled date for the final.
Never before has the FA Cup final been organized without fans.
When the team buses arrived, only one man in an Arsenal supporter was singing at the entrance.
Inside the stadium, the final hymn of the traditional cup, “Abide With Me”, was not even sung live. Instead, a prerecorded version was played, dedicated to the victims of COVID-19 and racial injustice and performed by Emeli Sande on the roof of the stadium.
“Love Justice Unity” appeared on the big screen outside the stadium facing Wembley Way, where the only crowds were heading to the mall.
Supporters were still being heard inside Wembley before the start of the game when a merger of mental health conversations filled the silence in this finale named after the Heads Up initiative spearheaded by Prince William, the president of the FA.
Not even the second in line to the British throne could secure a ticket to Wembley with a capacity limited to a few hundred, including players, club executives, media, and doctors.
It had been the dream start for Pulisic, who has been a revelation since soccer’s three-month shutdown ended in June.
Created by Olivier Giroud’s heeled movie, Pulisic came from close range after five minutes for his 11th goal in all competitions. The American emulated compatriot Carli Lloyd, who scored in the 2017 FA Women’s Cup final for Manchester City.
While Lloyd got the trophy after a 4-1 win over Birmingham, this artwork ended in agony for Pulisic.
Pulisic stopped screaming in the penalty area at the beginning of the second half. He managed a shot before going down clutching his right knee. He had to be helped off the field, supported by both sides while grimacing.
She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.