Chelsea 1 - 2 Arsenal: Gunners rack up an FA Cup record

Arsene Wenger looks on as Gabriel, goalkeeper Petr Cech and Mesut Ozil lift up the FA Cup. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty

Having missed out on Champions League qualification, criticism of the Gunners boss has reached unprecedented levels.

Wenger has continued undeterred and, ahead of talks about his future next week, oversaw a record seventh FA Cup triumph, with Aaron Ramsey securing a memorable 2-1 win moments after Chelsea’s Diego Costa had cancelled out Alexis Sanchez’s controversial strike.

Victor Moses’ sending off after taking a tumble added intrigue to a final that enthralled from the outset, when an offside call against Sanchez was rightly overruled – although his handball in the build-up was missed.

The first half could have been so much worse for unusually disjointed Chelsea, with Gary Cahill having to clear Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck efforts off the line, while the latter saw a header come back off the post and Ramsey directed the rebound on to the woodwork.

Desperation soon crept into Chelsea’s improved second-half display and Moses took a tumble in the box searching for a penalty, only to be deservedly handed a second yellow card.

The Blues responded manfully as Costa somehow beat surprise selection David Ospina, yet Arsenal were not to be denied a 13th FA Cup.

Ramsey, the match-winner in 2014 against Hull, ran through to head home as Antonio Conte’s men went close to a famous double, without a celebratory cigar.

A larger than usual security presence welcomed supporters at a time of heightened alert following Monday’s terror attack.

Armed police patrolled Wembley and all in attendance underwent rigorous searches after 22 people were killed and many more injured in the attack at Manchester Arena.

Chelsea did not wear their black armbands in the first half after leaving them inside the jackets they decided against due to the warm weather – unusually sloppy from the west Londoners, much like their start. Conte’s men were second best in an opening period that was just four minutes old when Sanchez charged down a clearance.

Assistant referee Gary Beswick quickly raised his flag for offside against Ramsey, but the midfielder left the ball for Sanchez to race through and smartly direct past Thibaut Courtois.

Confusion reigned for 40 seconds as referee Anthony Taylor went to speak to the linesman before awarding the goal.

Injustice and excitement fuelled a breathless first half, with Sanchez coming close from distance as Costa proved a nuisance.

Surprisingly, though, it was Arsenal attacking with more pace and intensity, with Ozil put through and seeing a 15th-minute effort cleared off the line by Cahill.

Soon Wenger’s men were threatening again as Welbeck rose to meet Ozil’s corner, beating Courtois with a header that came back off the goal frame – just as Ramsey’s follow-up did after attempting to bundle home the loose ball.

Costa was thwarted by captain Per Mertesacker, starting his first match in 392 days, and Ospina as Chelsea looked to level, but their defence was being too easily exposed.

Cahill again cleared off the line after Welbeck’s attempt squirmed through, before Granit Xhaka’s half-volley was denied.

The Premier League champions’ unexpectedly poor half was followed by a predictably strong second-half response.

N’Golo Kante’s deflected strike  was followed by Mertesacker denying Costa and Moses forcing Ospina into a save as Chelsea turned the screw.

Pedro bent wide from 20 yards but the blue charge soon began to slow, with Hector Bellerin seeing a drive saved before Moses went down in the box under pressure from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The Arsenal man looked bemused and referee Taylor unamused, giving Moses a second booking for diving – a red card that looked a hammer blow.

But, like so many times this season, Chelsea showed impressive resilience. Costa, their biggest threat, took a volleyed effort that took a slight deflection off Mertesacker, but should not have beaten Ospina so easily.

The blue hordes’ wild celebrations were quickly halted, though.

Olivier Giroud, brought on just  38 seconds earlier, swung in a  cross and Ramsey was allowed to burst through unmarked by Kante to power home a 79th-minute header.

It was an incredible response that Bellerin nearly added to after a stunning solo run and, having seen Ospina stop Costa grabbing his second, Ozil sent an effort off the base of the post.

Chelsea fans began to head for the exits when full-time was called on a memorable end to an otherwise forgettable Arsenal campaign.