Aaron Ramsey gave Arsenal their first piece of silverware in almost 9 years with an audacious outside of the boot attempt in the second period of extra time.

The future was looking bad for Arsenal as they went two goals down within the first ten minutes but a comeback that had the fans' hearts in their mouths for an age made them forget about the shock of the start and gave them the ecstasy that only comes with winning the FA Cup.

As Aaron Ramsey sent half of Wembley into ecstasy, the Emirates pitch filled with those in the red and white of Arsenal Football Club. When the grass cleared as they went back to their seats to look their beloved team lift the FA Cup for the 11th time, there were no players or staff to celebrate with them but in Wembley, the entire of Arsenal's squad lifted the magical trophy up one-by-one.

The players won't feature at the Emirates for a long while but the fans there have not been humiliated by the early preparation for the victory parade through the streets of Islington, they have been sent into pure joy and that feeling will stay with them for the next few weeks.

A puff of the cheeks from Arsene Wenger signified how much the 120 minutes had taken out of everyone in the home of football. As he walked back down the famous steps of Wembley, supporters clamored for him, their minds so full of pride for the players and their most decorated manager. 

There was only one way to describe the opening of the final of the 'magical competition'; Magic. 

Hull quickly slowed the game down, looking to frustrate Arsenal. But within minutes they had the ball set for the corner, following a constant barrage of pressure from Ahmed Elmohamady. Steven Quinn floated the corner to the edge of the box as, former-Spurs man, Tom Huddlestone tried to replicate Paul Scholes' wonder strike - Bradford. His shot was heading well wide but the unmarked James Chester fumbled the ball goal wards and it crept in to the bottom left hand corner. 

Minutes later and Hull had another set-piece. The early goal had made the neutrals assuming Hull would sit back too early but they kept on going, full of confidence. This time, the costless kick, later showed to be 8 yards further forward then the foul was committed, seemed to be cleared. Quinn chased down the loose ball and put in a fantastic ball for Alex Bruce, Fabianski could only parry the centre-back's header and Curtis Davies calmly placed the ball across the floor stricken Fabianski and in to the bottom left hand corner, exactly like Chester had 3 minutes previously.

The fears of sitting back following an early goal were realised at the second time. Despite Steve Bruce's attempts to push his team up field, the natural urge was to sit back and make sure Arsenal got no space. 

The attempts to give Arsenal no time at all was so desperate that Alex Bruce tripped Santi Carzola, meriting a costless kick from 30 yards out. 

Back in 1991, Arsenal conceded one of the most famous FA Cup costless kicks ever, Paul Gascoigne leaving David Seamen lost for words with a wonder strike in the semi-final. This time, though, Santi Cazorla was the man to score a magical costless kick at Wembley, curling it perfectly into the top corner. Alan McGregor got his right hand to it but could only tip it into the roof of the net. The celebrations of the Arsenal fans were more of relief than anything else.

The momentum that Arsenal inevitably carried following the goal was halted by an injured Elmohamady in pain on the floor. The 26-year-old eventually got to his feet but the key was the Arsenal momentum had been halted. 

Arsene Wenger did keep his team on top though, pushing Hull further and further back, meanwhile the Hull players naturally dropped deeper. Nothing could come of the intense pressure despite humiliation for Mesut Ozil as he sprang into the box, only to leave the incoming ball behind him. 

Hull improved after what must have seemed an age for the hand waving Steve Bruce. By the time the first half came to it's conclusion, the teams had begun to even themselves out.

Steve Bruce came out looking as bright red as ever, and his Hull side came out ready to attack once again. Matty Fryatt and Elmohamady worked well on the wing but the attacking section of Hull's side failed to get into the box for the cross. 

Arsenal sprang into life again, woken by the danger. The game started to stretch rapidly, Arsenal starting attack after attack, nothing coming of it. 

As the game became stretched, last ditch defending became key. Huddlestone tried his best to keep Giroud at bay, but one of his attempts was catcalled and compared to something of Jackie Chan. The referee shook his head adamantly for what was a definite penalty.

More penalty claims followed, none were given and the fans from North London started to become frustrated. 

The pressure kept on coming from the North London side and silly little clips kept on coming from Hull. David Meyler was booked for a take out.

The pressure finally converted into something as Laurent Koscielny threw himself at the ball and put it past Alan McGregor. The Frenchman lay on the floor as his team mates congratulated him, but he was obviously in pain after Alan McGregor took him out in an attempt to stop the equaliser.

The question was, grandstand finish or a turtle-like journey to penalties? Sone Aluko tried to produce the grandstand finish as the 80th minute mark drew near. Powering out of defence, Yaya Toure-esque, he kept the ball brilliantly, however many Arsenal players surrounded him, he managed to keep the ball and after constant calls for help from him, he finally had someone in space for him. Arsenal cleared the ball and despite a small halt in their period of dominance, they weren't stopped completely. 

Alan McGregor kept it level with a fantastic save to stop Giroud scoring, in what was a poor game for him. 

Hull couldn't quite to find a way to stop Arsenal exploiting the space that their tired legs couldn't quite cover. 

Penalty shouts came and went but Lee Probert continued to refuse to be fooled. The classic commentator phrase of 'that could have been given' was used time after time but Probert didn't believe that it should have. 

With 5 minutes of the 90 to go, Hull began to use the attacking aspect of their side more. Aluko continued to impress the 90,000 or so inside Wembley as he tried to inspire a grandstand finish from Hull.

Butterflies filled the stomachs of everyone in Wembley and hearts lurched as Giroud turned inside the box, only to hit in too close to Alan McGregor.

No one could get the all important last minute goal to send their fans wild and the butterflies were forced to last another 30 minutes.

The crossbar was called into action quickly. Alan McGregor had no chance from Olivier Giroud's header, but there was no celebrating to be done yet, thanks to the woodwork.

Wenger introduced two pairs of fresh legs with 15 minutes of extra time left as Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky came on for Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil. 

Even more space flew open and after an age of Arsenal pressure, and no silverware, Aaron Ramsey fired in a brilliant first time goal with the outside of his boot, leaving McGregor with no chance. Not only did he leave McGregor with no chance, Arsenal fans ecstatic and Hull fans distraught, but left everyone in England with admiration for the Welshman who's audacious attempt sent Arsenal to their first piece of silverware for 8 years, 11 months and 25 days. 

Aaron Ramsey celebrates his goal in the closing stages of extra-time to give Arsenal the 3-2 win.

The early preparations for the victory parade through the streets of Islington almost seemed too confident as a trademark Fabianski ball charge out of the area gave Aluko the chance to cross it into the box for a open goal. He tried to go for glory though and could only pull it across the goal-line. 

The red side of North London have seen their team victor against the top sides in England, against the odds, putting in impressive performances. They have been the victims of the cruel FA Cup draw but they prevailed, despite shaky performances in the semi-final and final, and are FA Cup winners 2013/14. 

The preparations were not premature, Arsenal's confidence before the game and patience throughout the game gave them the piece of silverware that they have been craving for so, so long,...

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Harry Robinson
Deputy Editor-in-Chief at VAVEL UK, and Manchester United Editor.