Arsenal win the FA Cup - Arsenal 3 Hull 2: Arsene Wenger hails 'important moment' in the life of his team

While Steve Bruce praises 'magnificent' performance by his players

Arsene Wenger embraces Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after the FA Cup victory (Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger effectively confirmed he would make the FA Cup victory a double celebration for Arsenal by signing a new contract, thus confirming match-winner Aaron Ramsey's prediction.

The Welshman said: “Over the last couple of seasons we've been under pressure and had stick for not being ruthless and not taking opportunities, but the manager has always believed in us. This is for Arsene - and we now know he'll put pen to paper.”

Coquetish to the last Wenger said of signing a new deal: “Normally that should happen, and we are in normal circumstances.” He added: “It was never a question of leaving, it was a question of doing the right job for this club.

Of the match Wenger said: “It is a relief, and there is big happiness. We waited for a long time for that and the happiness is linked sometimes to the suffering.

“We were under severe pressure to win today, We did not start well, we were hesitant, then we responded well. I was shocked [at the start]. They looked dangerous on every set piece. When everyone expects you to win, and you are two-nil down you are under pressure. It was important to get back to 2-1 before half-time, then not to rush our game.

This was Wenger's record fifth FA Cup triumph with Arsenal and he said: “This is more important than the other wins. It is an important moment in the life of this team. To lose today would have been a major setback, to win is a good platform to come back ever stronger next year.”

However, he may have to do wthout Bacary Sagna. The defender, who has been linked with Manchester City having not signed a new deal at Arsenal, said: “I don't know if this was my last match for Arsenal. I have been talking with the club for a long time and we will try to find a solution, but I don't know what that will be.”

Mikael Arteta, who captained Arsenal on the day said of the match: “It's unbelievable. When you go 2-0 down it is really rare to come back and win the Cup. It has been a long time and hopefully this is the start of something really good. The start of the match was shocking, you would never expect to start the game like but we showed the character desire and spirit of this team to put it right in the end.

“Aaron Ramsey has been the best player on the pitch when he has been fit and he was the right man to score. It had to come sometime. Today was the day and we have done it.”

Jack Wilshere, who began the game as a substitute, said: “We never do it easy. Sitting on the bench I felt sick after the first 10 minutes, but we always felt if we got the goal before half-time we would win it and it was a great free-kick from Santi Cazorla.”

Hull City boss Steve Bruce was disappointed, but proud and gracious after his side lost a thrilling contest.

“I always think your name is on the cup, and for a while I thought our name was on it,” he said. “But credit to Arsenal for the fightback. It was a wonderful goal from Cazorla, that bit of quality.

“We're delighted with what we have done. We now have to move forward.The vast majority who played today played with me in the Championship.They have had a wonderful couple of years, maybe it would have been even more historic but in the end we just ran out of juice. In terms of effort, endeavour and determination you couldn't fault them to a man. Proud? Of course I am. They were magnificent.“ ”

Bruce said he felt Matty Fryatt had not fouled Laurent Koscielny when he went tough on goal in the closing minutes of the first half, and that the corner which led to Arsenal's equaliser was a goal-kick, but added: “This is not the time to whinge.”

He added: “Arsenal are a fantastic club and Arsene is a fantastic manager. How he gets the stick he gets I don't know. Well done to them.”