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Arsenal swept aside a lacklustre Aston Villa to clinch a record-breaking twelfth FA Cup victory with a 4-0 win at Wembley.
Arsene Wenger's side dominated possession and territory from the outset, forcing Shay Given into a series of smart saves in the first half.
Theo Walcott, preferred to Olivier Giroud in a central striking role, broke the deadlock with a well taken left-footed volley after 40 minutes, beating Given at the Villa goalkeeper's near post.
Alexis Sanchez doubled the Gunners' lead with a superb 25-yard strike just after the break, leaving Given helpless with a swerving right-footed strike that deflected off the underside of the crossbar.
Per Mertesacker put the game beyond doubt with a free header just after the hour mark, before Olivier Giroud came off the bench to add gloss to the victory with a simple fourth, touching home after good work from fellow substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Show all 24 1 /24Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Wojciech Szczesny During Villa’s early aerial assault, Szczesny was confident and comfortable, punching astutely. Not a bad way to say goodbye. 7/10
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Hector Bellerin The 20-year-old looked assured in the biggest game of his career, sprinting up and down the right wing and testing Richardson. 7
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Laurent Koscielny Barely tested at the back after the first 20 minutes, he made no mistakes and was always confident in possession. 6
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Per Mertesacker Ended the contest when he scored with his shoulder, and deservedly so after another season of professionalism and leadership. 8
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Nacho Monreal His clever run to the by-line and cross set up Walcott’s first goal, after which he defended cleverly and calmly. 7
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Francis Coquelin Relished the physical scrap in midfield, where he shut down everything Villa tried, and let his more talented team-mates shine. 7
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Santi Cazorla The brains of this Aresnal team, he covered the whole pitch, always keeping the ball, starting attacks and beating opponents. 8
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Aaron Ramsey Darting inside from the wing, Ramsey was consistently dangerous, making runs which Villa’s defence never came to terms with. 8
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Mesut Ozil This was a £42million performance, as Ozil glided around the pitch, always in space, spotting and playing perfect passes. 9
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Alexis Sanchez Will always be remembered for the spectacular second, but his perfect header back across the box set up the first. 9
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Theo Walcott Utterly vindicated Wenger’s big decision to pick him, putting Arsenal ahead with an emphatic strike with his weaker left foot. 8
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Off the bench: Olivier Giroud Wrapped things up by slotting home a simple fourth goal in injury time. 7
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Shay Given Beaten by two great strikes, and while the second left him floundering, there is little he could really have done. 5/10
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Alan Hutton Wanted to provide width but was well pinned back by Arsenal, and after a yellow card was toothless as well. 4
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Ron Vlaar Would surely have rather faced Olivier Giroud, Vlaar never looked comfortable with the spritely Walcott darting in behind him. 4
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Jores Okore Villa’s only defender who could keep up with Walcott, he made one brave block but otherwise looked rather lost. 5
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Kieran Richardson One desperate block stands out, but Richardson spent most of the game trying to cover two opponents, and naturally struggling. 4
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Ashley Westwood Tried to anchor Villa’s midfield but was outmanoeuvred by Cazorla and Ozil who were able to pass the ball around him. 4
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Fabian Delph Did all the running in Villa’s midfield but was up against superior players and had no legal means of stopping them. 4
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Tom Cleverley One of the Villa midfielders who could not live with quality of Arsenal, chasing the ball around, never getting close. 3
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Jack Grealish He was brilliant here in the semi-final, but today he simply could not influence the game, barely seeing the ball. 4
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Charles N'Zogbia Asked to run off Christian Benteke’s flick-ons, N’Zogbia barely got in the game at all and did not last an hour. 3
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Christian Benteke Won his share of headers but never looked like causing Arsenal real problems. Lost Mertesacker for the fatal third goal. 5
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Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 0 - FA Cup final player ratings Off the bench: Gabby Agbonlahor More dangerous than N’Zogbia, was unlucky not to win a penalty when he was tripped in the box by Coquelin. 5
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