Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea: how the FA Cup final players rated

ARSENAL

David Ospina, 6/10 Preferred to Petr Cech, he made himself big and saved bravely from Costa in the first half but should have saved the equaliser. Huge save at the end to win the game.

Rob Holding, 7/10 Looked assured for large parts of the biggest game of his career despite having to deal with the menacing Costa. Booked for a foul on the Chelsea striker and lost him for the goal.

Per Mertesacker, 9/10 First start all season and what a performance. Looked as if he had never been away. Dominated Costa in the air and denied the Chelsea striker with a fabulous sliding tackle too for good measure.

Nacho Monreal, 8/10 Started attack that led to opening goal down the left and at times he seemed to be everywhere. Gave away some unnecessary free-kicks but Chelsea failed to capitalise.

Héctor Bellerín, 7/10 Energetic yet still composed down the right, subduing Marcos Alonso while contributing to Arsenal’s attacking play when he was in a position to do so. Nearly scored but Courtois saved.

Aaron Ramsey, 8/10 A superb performance, the Welshman ran the midfield show, not giving the Chelsea players a second on the ball. Scored the winner after a run from deep and composed header.

Granit Xhaka, 8/10 For a player who has been criticised for his indiscipline and decision-making, for most of the season, this was a wonderfully assured performance. Crisp passing too. Impressive.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 6/10 Finally fit to play in a Cup final and produced a performance full of running and, overall, controlled defending despite having to give away free-kicks with last-ditch tackles.

Mesut Özil, 7/10 Elegant, as always, and hugely influential in Arsenal’s win. But it was not all flicks and curled passes. He worked hard too, as encapsulated by a powerful track-back and sliding challenge on Hazard.

Alexis Sánchez, 9/10 Set the tone from the beginning with his attitude, energy and pressing and reacted quicker than anyone else to give the Gunners an early lead and worked superbly throughout.

Danny Welbeck, 8/10 Worked tirelessly for the team and held the ball up well to combine with Sánchez and Özil. Hit the post with a beautiful header from a corner in the first half.

CHELSEA

Thibaut Courtois, 6/10 Powerless to do anything about either of Arsenal’s goal with Sánchez appearing one-on-one with him for the first and Ramsey given too much space for the second..

Cesar Azpilicueta, 6/10 The Spaniard cut a frustrated figure at times but got an importance touch on a Bellerin cross with two Arsenal players lurking in the penalty area in the second half.

David Luiz, 6/10 His weak, headed clearance was pounced upon by Sánchez for the opening goal and it never felt as if Chelsea’s three-man central defence were in total control of Arsenal’s attacking trio.

Gary Cahill, 7/10 Twice cleared off the line with the first a remarkably calm, back-heeled effort despite being under pressure by Welbeck. The England centre-half was one of Chelsea’s best players.

Victor Moses, 3/10What was he thinking? On a yellow card for a crude challenge on Welbeck near the halfway line, he took a dive inside the penalty area and was correctly sent off. Madness.

N’Golo Kanté, 6/10 The Frenchman was not at his best in the final game of a season that has seen so many fine performances by him. Chelsea were second-best in midfield and so was he.

Nemanja Matic, 5/10

Uncharacteristically, the Serb lost the ball on several occasions. There was no repeat of the goal that sank Spurs in the semi-final at the same venue and he was taken off after an hour.

Marcos Alonso, 5/10 Had a surprisingly quiet game as Chelsea were often on the back-foot, unable to cope with Arsenal’s better pressing. Took one free-kick in a good position but it was wild and high.

Pedro, 6/10 Shot high from a good position inside the Arsenal penalty area after being released by Hazard and then saw one effort go narrowly wide with Ospina beaten. Replaced by Willian.

Eden Hazard, 6/10 Struggled to influence the game like he has done on so many occasions this season. Credit for Arsenal for keeping him quiet, apart from one tremendous through ball to Pedro.

Diego Costa, 6/10 Started by kicking out at Rob Holding, although he missed, and had one of those brooding, frustrating afternoons when things do not quite come off for him until he equalised.