Chapter 795: First Final Loss
August 1, 2020, New Wembley Stadium
When referee Anthony Taylor blew the final whistle, Arsenal players erupted in celebration—despite not actually winning in regulation or extra time.
The scoreboard showed 120 minutes played, and the score was 0–0.
This was the 2019–2020 FA Cup Final, pitting Arsenal against Manchester United.
The two most successful clubs in the competition's history were battling it out. Manchester United had previously reached the FA Cup Final 22 times, winning 15 titles, while Arsenal had made it to 20 finals and won 12.
This match marked United's 23rd FA Cup Final appearance and Arsenal's 21st.
For Arsenal, failing to secure European qualification through the Premier League had made this final their sole chance to compete in Europe next season. Without a win, the Gunners would miss out on European football entirely.
Facing a dominant Manchester United side fresh off a historic 99-point Premier League-winning campaign, Arsenal played ultra-defensively in the first half. Mikel Arteta pulled nearly all his players back into their own half, successfully neutralizing United's relentless attack.
This hyper-defensive approach was almost uncharacteristic for Arsenal, a club renowned for its fluid, attacking style of football.
Halftime Analysis
At halftime, pundits mocked Arsenal, describing Arteta's tactics as resembling a 9-0-1 or even 10-0-0 formation.
Manchester United had registered 21 shots in the first half but failed to find the back of the net. Arsenal's defensive duo of Kieran Tierney and David Luiz, along with Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, formed an impenetrable wall.
Given United's Premier League dominance—scoring 106 goals in 38 games, averaging nearly three per match—Arteta's ultra-defensive setup was understandable.
For Arsenal, who had failed to qualify for Europe via the league, the FA Cup represented their last chance to salvage the season.
But what surprised everyone was Arsenal maintaining their defensive stance after halftime. Even striker Alexandre Lacazette dropped deep to defend. Arteta was clearly committed to taking the match all the way to penalties.
Throughout the game, Arsenal managed just 9 shots, with only one on target. They maintained just 37.6% possession, with 57.5% of the match played in their own half.
Meanwhile, Manchester United had 40 shots, but only 5 were on target, as 20 were blocked by Arsenal's dogged defense.
Controversial Moments
The 90 minutes were not without drama.
First-Half Penalty Incident
Bruno Fernandes appeared to have been fouled by Granit Xhaka inside the box, but after a VAR review, referee Anthony Taylor ruled the foul occurred on the edge of the area. Xhaka received a yellow card, and United were awarded only a free kick.
Despite protests from United players, Taylor remained firm, threatening further bookings if they didn't back down.
Second-Half Offside Goal
Bruno also had a potential goal ruled out for offside in the second half. VAR replays showed the decision was marginal, with some pundits calling it "highly debatable."
Arsenal survived both scares and managed to drag the match into extra time and then a penalty shootout.
It was evident from the start that Arteta's plan was to take the game to penalties.
The Drama of Penalty Shootouts
A penalty shootout is football's ultimate test of composure, pressure, and mental fortitude.
While FIFA statistics indicate a 79% success rate for penalties, those numbers mean little in the high-pressure environment of a final.
Former England manager Glenn Hoddle famously remarked that even after practicing penalties 1,000 times, the unique stress of a major final cannot be replicated.
Studies show that 80–90% of penalty outcomes are determined by psychological factors, while technical skill plays a minor role.
Some have called penalty shootouts the "perfect stress test."
Arsenal's Strategy Pays Off
In the shootout, Arsenal's calmness under pressure proved decisive.
While United missed two penalties, including a crucial one from captain Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal converted all five of their attempts.
The final penalty from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sealed the victory, sparking wild celebrations from the Gunners.
Arsenal 5–3 Manchester United (penalties)
Arsenal's defensive masterclass, combined with their flawless penalty execution, allowed them to snatch the FA Cup trophy and secure a place in the Europa League next season.
United's First Final Loss Under Mourinho
For José Mourinho, it was a bitter pill to swallow. This marked his first-ever defeat in a domestic cup final as a manager. Despite dominating the match, his team's inability to break through Arsenal's defense cost them dearly.
A Tale of Two Celebrations
While Arsenal celebrated their 14th FA Cup triumph—the most in the competition's history—United were left to reflect on missed opportunities.
"Congratulations to Arsenal and Mikel Arteta. They defended heroically and took their chance in the shootout," Mourinho said in his post-match interview.
Despite the loss, Mourinho praised his players' efforts throughout the season, highlighting their Premier League triumph and record-breaking achievements.
"We've had an extraordinary season, but football can be cruel. Today wasn't our day, but we'll be back stronger."
In a real penalty shootout, many players resist taking the first penalty due to the immense pressure, especially the first and fifth kicks, which are positions most players avoid at all costs.
However, some players must rise to the occasion.
As captain and the team's most reliable penalty taker, Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take the first penalty for Manchester United, while Harry Kane was slated to take the fifth.
The Shootout Begins
After the coin toss, Bruno won the right to choose sides, while Arsenal was awarded the first penalty.
Arsenal's first taker was Alexandre Lacazette, a player known for his strong mentality. Entrusted by Arteta with this critical task, Lacazette delivered, calmly converting his penalty.
This placed all the pressure squarely on Manchester United.
Bruno Fernandes, carrying the weight of the team, stepped up as United's first penalty taker. Standing at the spot, he carefully planned his shot: in previous penalties, he had often aimed down the middle, but this time...
"GOAL!"
"Bruno Fernandes executed his penalty perfectly, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner with speed and precision. Arsenal's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez anticipated another central push, but Bruno switched tactics brilliantly."
"United's decision to have Bruno take the first penalty was clearly due to his immense composure under pressure. He delivered exactly what was expected, maintaining the team's hopes."
"Bruno has been outstanding throughout this match. If not for Anthony Taylor's two controversial decisions, this game might never have gone to penalties."
"Regardless of the final outcome, after converting this penalty, Bruno can leave Wembley Stadium with his head held high."
The Shootout Intensifies
In the second round, Granit Xhaka for Arsenal and Marcus Rashford for United both converted their penalties with calm precision.
In the third round, Arsenal's captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang faltered, missing his penalty, while Ilkay Gündoğan calmly scored for United, giving the Red Devils the upper hand.
The fourth round saw Nicolas Pépé score for Arsenal, but United's Kylian Mbappé surprisingly missed his shot, leveling the playing field once again.
In subsequent rounds:
Dani Ceballos and Harry Kane,Kieran Tierney and N'Golo Kanté all scored, pushing the shootout to sudden death.
The Decisive Moment
In the seventh round, Arsenal's David Luiz confidently converted his penalty, leaving United's Harry Maguire to keep their hopes alive.
But Maguire's shot flew over the crossbar.
As the ball soared into the stands, Maguire fell to his knees at the penalty spot, clutching his head in despair. The weight of the moment was too much to bear.
In such a critical situation, no one blamed Maguire. Instead, Bruno and Harry Kane immediately went to console the vice-captain, embracing him tightly. Other United players followed, forming a supportive circle around Maguire.
Tears welled in many players' eyes, their hearts heavy with frustration.
United had played valiantly but encountered an Arsenal side determined to defend at all costs. Combined with contentious refereeing decisions, the match was dragged into the cruel lottery of penalties, where they suffered their first final defeat in nearly four years.
A Heartbreaking First
For Bruno Fernandes, this was the first penalty shootout of his career in a final—and the first time he had ever lost a final.
If United had triumphed over Arsenal, they would have become the first team in FA Cup history to achieve a five-peat. Unfortunately, that record would remain unbroken.
Arsenal's Triumph
While Manchester United players gathered around Maguire in a moment of shared grief, Arsenal celebrated wildly.
Their penalty shootout victory secured their first trophy in five years and guaranteed their place in the Europa League next season.
This result also ended Wolverhampton Wanderers' hopes of European football, as Arsenal's FA Cup win took the final Europa League spot.
European Qualification
With the FA Cup decided, England's representatives for the 2020–2021 European competitions were confirmed:
Champions League: Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea.Europa League: Leicester City (5th place) and Arsenal (FA Cup winners).Europa League Playoffs: Tottenham Hotspur (6th place).
Looking Ahead
Though Manchester United's domestic campaign ended with disappointment, their season was far from over.
The UEFA Champions League knockout stage loomed large.
According to the revised schedule, four remaining Round of 16 second-leg ties—including Manchester United's—were set to take place on August 7 and 8. From the quarterfinals onward, the format would shift to single-leg matches, adding an extra layer of unpredictability.
The 2019–2020 Champions League had just 11 matches remaining, instead of the usual 13—a format change that promised even more drama.
For United, the path to redemption was clear: they needed to focus on conquering Europe.
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