28 May, 2017
Arsenal salvaged some silverware from a traumatic season as they beat Premier League champion Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday thanks to Aaron Ramsey's late victor.
Planes carrying anti-Wenger slogans, boycotts of home games and signs and banners being displayed inside stadiums came during a blip for Arsenal which Wenger believes cost them dear.
The Italian led the West London side to an emphatic Premier League triumph this term following the Blues' poor campaign last season finishing 10th in the top-flight.
"I'm especially proud of the way we won this season, in the semi-final we had to play against Man City here and in the final Chelsea here, you can not get tougher and we had two outstanding performances, this cup was won with special spirit and special attitude".
"This team has suffered, but they're united and they responded".
"If Ramsey was not in an offside position, I could go out and touch the ball but I had to stop because he was there". "They showed strength and unity and played spectacular football today".
Only three minutes later, Arsenal charged down the pitch on a counter, and Ramsey, who also scored Arsenal FA Cup victor three years ago against Hull, put a powerful header on a cross to give Arsenal a 2-1 lead, and eventually the win.
"My players put all of themselves into the game".
And with the match winding down, Costa somehow failed to beat Ospina after being set up by Hazard in the box while Ozil smashed against a post for the final real chance of this epic FA Cup final. "It's not about popularity, it's about competence", Wenger said after the game.
Reports suggest the 67-year-old is leaning towards staying, but he refused to disclose any information about his future and said the situation would be resolved at a board meeting on Tuesday.
"We stuck in there when it looks like things were against us", he said. "Wednesday or Thursday will be clearer".
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte were unhappy with the first goal, saying: "I think the first goal was very unusual".
Alexis Sanchez had caught Chelsea's defence flat-footed in the fourth minute as he pushed the ball forward, with video replay showing that he allegedly used his hand.
The absences of the suspended Laurent Koscielny, the injured Gabriel and the concussed Shkodran Mustafi brought club captain Per Mertesacker into Arsenal's back three for his first start of the season. Our start wasn't good enough.
Despite his disappointment at missing out on the Double, Conte said Chelsea's feat of winning the Premier League with a record 30 wins meant it was still a season to savour.
In one of the finest finals in recent memory, the Gunners were magnificent to a man - dominating the first half, soaking up pressure in the second, and eventually battling back from a late equaliser to go back up the other end and win it in style.
