Arsenal defeats 10-man Chelsea in all-London FA Cup final

Arsenal and Chelsea clashed in an all-London edition of the FA Cup final.

After a disappointing Premier League season, Arsenal took home the FA Cup on Saturday by beating Chelsea 2–1 at Wembley. 

Arsenal took an early lead amid controversy, as Alexis Sanchez scored in the fifth minute to put the Gunners up 1–0 on their London rivals (and Premier League champions) Chelsea. 

Sanchez's goal was immediately called off, with the referee's assistant signaling for offside on Aaron Ramsey and Chelsea players calling for a handball on Sanchez as he won the ball at the beginning of the play. 

However, after conferring with his assistant, referee Anthony Taylor elected to allow the goal to give Arsenal a surprising early lead in the cup final. 

Handball? Offside? Doesn't matter, it's 1-0 Arsenal! #FACupFinal https://t.co/IPpoAD2kiO

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 27, 2017

Chelsea’s hopes of a comeback seemed to be dealt a significant blow when Victor Moses received a second yellow card for diving.

RED CARD 🔴 @VictorMoses receives a second yellow for this dive and is sent off! #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/Fob7giJDc4

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) May 27, 2017

The match really heated up after Chelsea went down a man, though. Diego Costa scored the equalizer in the 76th minute but Aaron Ramsey put Arsenal back ahead just two minutes later. 

Have another look at Costa's equalizer for Chelsea in the #FACupFinal.

Blues fans couldn't celebrate for long... https://t.co/kh8z51VEoj

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 27, 2017

Aaron Ramsey did it again! 3 years after his extra-time winner vs Hull, he clinches another #FACupFinal for Arsenal! https://t.co/UDjt7tP1GJ

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 27, 2017

Arsenal’s win is a consolation for the club after a disappointing season in which it finished outside the top four of the Premier League and missed out on the Champions League as a result (though the club did qualify for the Europa League). Chelsea was denied a chance to secure a domestic double for Antonio Conte's team in the Italian's first season in charge as manager.