Cup Final Arsenal Player Ratings Jack Man of the Parade
By Boris & Matty Sadler
May 31 2015
We sat and had lunch in our usual pub on Harrow on the Hill, our numbers somewhat depleted by the cut in the number of tickets available, everyone a loyal Gunner of years standing. No one predicted 4-0, one or two even thought we might lose, no doubt influenced by the run of poor games at home that saw us lose enough points to lose the chase for second place.
When I got to Wembley the fan next to me told me he had bet we would win 3-0, his bet was looking good until 30 seconds from the whistle.
I have never seen Arsenal win such a one sided final, we have lost a few (Liverpool at Cardiff, or beat Man U against the odds) but everything went right this time and I have to say it was the most relaxing non acrimonious final I have ever attended. Meanwhile at the Emirates screening fans invaded the pitch, you see what happens when you let the proles in.
Today was the parade, and in spite of the rain hundreds of thousands turned up. As usual gibbering disc jockeys, loud music and firworks tried to drown out the crowd. Then the players were given a turn, up stepped Jack Wilshere, What Do You Think Of Tottenham he asked? The crowd replied. Audience participation on a grand scale at last. Then came even better, My Old Man Said Be A Tottenham Fan - now Ray Parlour used to stop there and leave the rest to the crowd, but Jack didn't, he continued But I said fe*k off b***ox, you're a K**t.
You should have seen the face of the MC, lord knows what Wenger made of it. Well done Jack, the game is packaged, orchestrated and sanitised from top to bottom. For once real fans had a real laugh. You might not have been MotM but you are my man of the parade.
To see who was MotM, and if you agree, Matt's ratings follow below:
Szczesny - 7. Faultless aside from one cross he came for and didn't get. Was clearly told to be more proactive on Villa's crosses and it nullified Benteke.
Bellerin - 7. Solid defensively and tried to get forward.
Mertesacker - 8. Scored and didn't give Benteke a sniff all game.
Koscielny - 7. Solid.
Monreal - 7. Solid and did well for the first goal.
Coquelin - 7. Solid and his passing game was much more expansive than normal.
Cazorla - 8. "Dictated the play" superbly. A superb performance to cap off an improved season.
Ramsey - 8. Also superb. Popped up all over the place and played a number of great passes. Unlucky not to have scored twice.
Ozil - 9. Magnificent. Also popped up all over the place with lots of good passes and some superb pieces of skill.
Alexis - 9. Scored one of the best FA Cup goals I have ever seen and also set up the first. Ran himself into the ground, as he has all season. What a player.
Walcott - 8. Scored the opener and was unlucky not to have scored another. Lively.
Subs:
Giroud - 7. Lively when he came on and scored a great fourth goal.
Wilshere - 6. Only had a couple of touches.
Oxlade-Chamberlain - 6. Assisted the fourth.