From Lambert to ‘Auba’: Arsenal’s 90-year Road to FA Cup Kingdom
Last month saw Arsenal clinch their 14th FA Cup title, and in doing so, they can now claim to account for over 10% of the finals won.
However, the road to such a feat has not been without its trials.
Indeed, it took Arsenal almost six decades to finally etch their name onto the immortal cup since its inauguration, doing so in 1930 against Huddersfield Town. The winning goals in that year’s final came courtesy of inside-left Alex James and centre-forward Jack Lambert.
Arsenal won it again just six years later, but with World War II just three years away, further additions were not forthcoming.
Long winless spells blight post-war era
Arsenal’s third FA Cup triumph came in 1950, just five years into the post-war era. Reg Lewis hit a double against Liverpool to clinch it, but that final did not act as a catalyst, and it was a whole 21 years before Arsenal would lift the famous cup again.
Once again, a Liverpool side on the cusp of another golden era provided the opposition. Arsenal ran out 2-1 victors in extra time, securing themselves a domestic double in front of a packed 100,000 Wembley crowd.
Eight years later, Arsenal experienced perhaps the most exciting and nail-biting final ever witnessed by the Gunners faithful. They faced Manchester United, and strolled into a 2-0 half time lead before 86th and 88th-minute goals from United levelled matters.
Arsenal simply refused to take the draw, and in the 89th minute, Alan Sunderland elated the Gunners faithful, clinching a breath-taking 3-2 victory in one of the most enticing finals seen to date.
George Graham ignites winning mentality at Highbury
A further 14-year drought awaited Arsenal after 1979. Yet, with the Gunners winning nine FA Cups between 1993 and 2020, and continually putting themselves in a more favourable light within footballing fixed odds for the FA Cup, it was worth the wait.
Arsenal’s Premier League-era dominance of the FA Cup began under George Graham, after a drab 10th place finish in the inaugural Premier League season of 1992/93. Sheffield Wednesday, by contrast, looked strong and unified after finishing three places higher.
While Arsene Wenger is seen as Arsenal’s true saviour of the past thirty years, Graham most certainly laid the foundations for FA Cup dominance, discarding the likes of Tony Woodcock and Tommy Caton, and replacing them with fresher youth products.
His decision was vindicated by a return of two league titles, in 1989 and 1991, and while Arsenal became more defensive after the latter win, Graham never lost his ability to get Arsenal hustling for silverware.
Wenger – Professeur et magicien
The tale of how Arsene Wenger took Arsenal to the very top is well-documented. It is, of course, predominantly characterised by how he built a multi-national side around Dennis Bergkamp – the greatest gift predecessor Bruce Rioch could have possibly left behind.
In 1998 and 2002, Wenger did the double both times with one of the most incredible Arsenal teams’ fans had ever seen. After the double in 2002, Wenger went on to win the FA Cup back to back for the Gunners for the first time in their history, which set a precedent to other teams in the chasing pack.
The 2004/05 season saw Arsenal give up their Premier League crown, but make history as the first team to win the FA Cup on a penalty shootout, after 120 nail-biting, goalless minutes against the previous year’s winners Manchester United.
Nine-year drought smashed in style
In 2014, after nine years without any form of silverware, the Gunners really had to fight against Hull City. They were 2-0 down against the Tigers within the first 10 minutes, before a remarkable comeback fuelled by Aaron Ramsey.
Two of the next three FA Cup finals would also belong to Arsenal, bringing us bang up to date with the ‘Aubameyang Final’ of 2020.
Coming from behind to win an FA Cup final is a particularly satisfying feat, and one which easily puts the Gabonese striker on a par with former Arsenal heroes of FA Cup lore, such as the aforementioned Reg Lewis.
While Aubameyang is seen as a prime target for Champions League regulars this summer, Mikel Arteta’s decision – with its similarities to George Graham – to invest in youth appears to be paying off.
Undoubtedly, future FA Cup runs will feature the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka more prominently. With that foursome representing a solid, young core around which to build, comparisons between the 2020s and the prelude to Graham’s and Wenger’s respective ‘peak’ years appear more warranted than ever.
While much of the narrative over the next year will surround Liverpool’s quest to equal Manchester United’s haul of 20 league titles, Arsenal’s haul of FA Cups is a great honour indeed, and one deeply rooted in values of patience and perseverance in the face of horrendous drought.
