This weekend, Arsenal face Hull for the first time since they met at Wembley on May 17th. As every Arsenal fan knows, the match ended 3-2 to Arsenal and the Gunners claimed their first trophy in nine years. The Hull comeback had been widely regarded as one of the best FA Cup finals ever, but how does it compare to the 1979 final, where Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-2 at Wembley?
Both finals have interesting backgrounds. In 1979, Arsenal were aiming to win a first trophy for eight years, since the famous 1971 double, and a first trophy under ex-Arsenal striker Terry Neill, who joined Arsenal as manager in 1976. The 2014 final was a classic FA Cup final, a big club against the underdogs. Everyone knew what the underdog could do though, in 2013 Ben Waston's last minute header gave Wigan an FA Cup final win over Manchester City. For Arsenal the final was a must win game. Arsenal needed to ended a nine year trophy drought under Arsene Wenger. Just three years earlier the Gunners had been beaten by Birmingham in the League Cup final.
The two finals, 35 years apart, share the same 3-2 scoreline, but two very different matches were played to get to those conclusions. In the 1979 final Arsenal had raced into a 2-0 lead by half time, with Talbot scoring the opener in the 12th minute and Stapleton doubling Arsenal's lead in the 43rd. Arsenal were cruising to the trophy and with five minutes to go the game had been largely unremarkable. This all changed in the 86th minute though, as Manchester United's McQueen pulled one back for the Red Devils. Around a minute later, United's McIlory scored Manchester United's equaliser and the game, which Arsenal had had a firm grip on, seemed to be heading to extra-time. With just seconds left of the match, Arsenal's Alan Sunderland scored the winning goal. His goal came with one of the most iconic moments of football commentary, as Brian Moore proclaimed "Away in a moment, it's there by Sunderland!" Manchester United's celebrations had been shorted lived as Arsenal lifted the famous old trophy for a sixth time.
Most, if not all, Arsenal fans know the story of the 2014 final. At New Wembley Hull raced into an early 2-0 lead with their goals come from defenders James Chester and Curtis Davies. It was close to being 3-0 Hull when Gibbs cleared Bruce's header off the line. Arsenal managed to get a goal back before half-time, with Santi Carzola's stunning, 16th minute costless-kick beating McGregor in the Hull goal. In the second-half Arsenal pressed for the equaliser and had numerous penalty appeals turned down by the referee Lee Probert.
Just 19-minutes from full time Laurent Koscielny equalised for Arsenal. Gibbs had a wonderful chance to win it in the 79th minute but his shot went over the bar. In extra time Arsenal dominated Hull and pressed for a winner, Giroud's header hit the bar in the first-half of extra-time. Just 11 minutes from the end the breakthrough came. Aaron Ramey's shot from a great Giroud back heel found its way past McGregor and into the corner of the net. Arsenal held on and soon enough they were cup winners again.
Both finals were exciting games for neutral viewers and memorable games for Arsenal, Manchester United and Hull City fans. The 1979 final had since been called the 'five minute final' because it took 85 minutes for the game to properly come alive. Despite this, it is still regarded as one of the best ever FA Cup finals and Alan Sunderland's last minute winner ranks with some of the best. The 2014 final is by far the most exciting final of this decade so far, and is one of the best finals since the turn of the Millennium. It was a whirlwind final where everyone, especially fans of both clubs, were on the edge of their seats. Both finals were great, but only time will tell if Arsenal's Hull comeback will ever be regarded as one of the best.