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 winner.
Chelsea had been hot favourites to complete a remarkable debut season for manager Antonio Conte but were not at their clinical best as Arsenal, who finished fifth in the league, lifted the Cup for the third time in four seasons.
They have now won it a record 13 times while manager Arsene Wenger, who is yet to say whether he will be extending his 21-year reign, is now the most successful manager in the history of the competition with seven wins.
Chelsea made a woeful start and were behind after four minutes thanks to Alexis Sanchez's controversial opener but when Diego Costa levelled in the 76th minute it seemed they would complete a memorable season.
Conte's side had to play the last 20 minutes with 10 men after Victor Moses was dismissed following a second yellow card for diving.
Ramsey's header in the 79th minute knocked the stuffing out of Conte's side and Arsenal could even have extended their lead in the closing stages as Chelsea finally buckled.
Wenger, who failed to finish in the top four for the first time since taking charge in 1996, celebrated with his players in front of the massed red ranks of Arsenal fans at the end.
"We had an outstanding performance from the first minute onwards," the 67-year-old Wenger said.
"This team has suffered. They've united and responded. I said last week this team will be in the championship with one or two good buys. They showed strength and unity and played spectacular football today."
Underdogs Arsenal enjoyed a dream start although there was huge debate about whether Sanchez's effort should have stood.
When his initial attempt to chip the ball into Chelsea's area was blocked, he appeared to knock the rebound forward with his arms before running through and shooting past Thibaut Courtois despite Ramsey standing in an offside position.
Confusion reigned as the goal was initially disallowed but after consulting with his assistant Gary Bewsick who had raised his flag, referee Anthony Taylor awarded the goal.
Chelsea never properly recovered from that body blow and Arsenal could have been out of sight before halftime.
Mesut Ozil had a shot back-heeled off the line by Gary Cahill while Chelsea had an amazing escape when Danny Welbeck's header thumped against the post and Ramsey bundled the ball back against the same upright.
Despite being all at sea Chelsea did threaten with Costa denied by a perfectly-timed tackle by Per Mertesacker who was making his first start for Arsenal for 13 months.
Arsenal keeper David Ospina also bravely denied Costa, receiving a blow to the head for his troubles.
Chelsea started the second half with more tempo and Footballer of the Year N'Golo Kante warmed Ospina's fingers with a deflected drive from distance before Moses brought a fine save from Ospina after Costa played him in.
Chelsea were required to play the last 20 minutes a man down after referee Taylor's second big call of the day, deciding that Moses had thrown himself to the floor under no obvious contact from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Just when it seemed their double hopes were slipping away, Costa equalised when his weakly-hit shot brushed off the excellent Mertesacker and past the diving Ospina.
But Arsenal had the last laugh when Chelsea's defence went AWOL again, allowing Ramsey the freedom of the box to head substitute Olivier Giroud's astute cut-back past Courtois.
Reuters
Sun May 28 2017
Arsenal's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the English FA Cup final soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, May 27, 2017. - AP Photo/Matt Dunham
Jawatankuasa RTG pertimbang senaraikan Nurul Izzah dalam program Fast Track RTG
Hannah berkata segala keputusan mengenai program berkenaan akan dibincangkan dan diputuskan bersama jawatankuasa program.
KWSP: Mengimbangi mandat persaraan dan sokongan kelangsungan ekonomi ahli - Pakar
Mohd Afzanizam menegaskan bahawa KWSP bukan satu-satunya organisasi yang bertanggungjawab dari segi menambah baik kehidupan masyarakat.
CAP minta kerajaan pertimbang tubuh Suruhanjaya Amal Malaysia
Mohideen berkata suruhanjaya itu pernah dicadangkan oleh bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail pada 2020.
Pos Malaysia yakin catat keputusan kewangan lebih baik di masa hadapan
Ia antara lain menyasarkan pengoptimuman sumber dan mengurangkan risiko berkaitan trend penurunan jumlah mel untuk menyokong pertumbuhan.
SPR India tuntut maklum balas aduan terhadap Modi, Rahul Gandhi
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya India hari ini memaklumkan pihaknya sudah meminta maklum balas daripada parti pemerintah Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dan parti pembangkang, Kongres.
Penguin maharaja berdepan kepupusan akibat pencairan ais
Spesies penguin terbesar di dunia, penguin maharaja terus berdepan ancaman apabila habitatnya terjejas akibat perubahan iklim. Selain pernah disifatkan bakal pupus menjelang tahun 2050, saintis dari Pusat Penyelidikan British Antarctic Survey pada Khamis memberitahu perubahan iklim memberi kesan terhadap kecairan ais di wilayah beku Antartika yang menjadi habitat buat koloni penguin maharaja.
ANCC2024: Astro, NACSA bekerjasama anjur 'coding challenge'
Diilhamkan daripada komitmen Astro dan NACSA untuk memupuk langkah keselamatan siber yang proaktif, pertandingan itu juga bertujuan untuk menormalisasikan navigasi digital yang selamat dalam ruang siber.
Suhu cecah 42 Celsius, Bangladesh tutup semua sekolah sehingga Sabtu ini
Suhu panas melampau sehingga mencecah 42 Celcius memaksa kerajaan Bangladesh menutup operasi persekolahan yang melibatkan 33 juta pelajar di negara itu.
PM Haiti serah surat peletakan jawatan
Perdana Menteri Haiti, Ariel Henry akhirnya menyerahkan surat peletakan jawatan pada Khamis selepas tidak henti berdepan tekanan antarabangsa bagi mengawal kekacauan kumpulan pengganas di negara itu. Surat rasmi peletakan jawatan yang ditandatangani Ariel Henry diserahkan di Los Angeles dan dikongsi pejabat Perdana Menteri Haiti bersamaan tarikh majlis presiden peralihan ditubuhkan.
RTS JB-Singapura di landasan tepat
Perkambangan pembinaan Projek RTS Johor Bahru-Singapura dilihat berada pada landasan tepat.
Bintang B-20 England taruhan Burnley
Media Britain melaporkan, Burnley akan membayar Villa sebanyak 14 juta pound untuk pemain bawah 20 tahun itu.
Bekas bintang Arsenal kembali sertai Cardiff City
Pemain tengah berusia 32 tahun yang tiba di Nice Ogos lalu secara percuma, telah membuat 34 penampilan dan menjaringkan satu gol.
Ronaldo mungkin direhatkan pada hari keraian Juventus
Pemain berusia 35 tahun itu telah merekodkan 31 gol dalam saingan liga ketika membantu Juve memperoleh gelaran berkenaan.
Masih 50-50, cabaran sebenar di tempat lawan - Unai Emery
Arsenal mengatasi Napoli 2-0 dalam suku akhir Liga Europa, Chelsea pula menewaskan Slavia Prague 1-0.
Arsenal pintas Manchester United & Tottenham
Arsenal tewaskan Newcastle 2-0 untuk melonjak ke tangga ketiga EPL.
Kenapa Unai Emery jadi pilihan Arsenal?
Unai Emery sudah sedia dengan perancangan untuk membaiki prestasi pemain Arsenal yang sedia ada.
Arsenal perlu menangi baki perlawanan EPL
Kekalahan 3-0 kepada Manchester City menyaksikan Gunners tewas tiga kali dalam empat perlawanan liga, menyaksikan mereka ketinggalan 10 mata di belakang penghuni tangga keempat, Tottenham.
Wenger punca Ramsey alami kecederaan - Coleman
Coleman membidas pengendali Arsenal itu susulan Ramsey terpaksa diketepikan dari beraksi di Kelayakan Piala Dunia bulan depan selepas mengalami kecederaan harmstring.
Euro 2016: Ramsey kecewa terlepas aksi separuh akhir
Ramsey dilayangkan kad kuning kedua di Euro selepas bola terkena tangannya ketika menentang Belgium sewakti aksi suku akhir.